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A Hero Among Us
Chapter 166 "Feminine Fatality"

Chapter 166 "Feminine Fatality"

Alexis, Ash, Blair, Eve, and Saige are gathered in gym clothes at the pool behind their dorm. It’s dawn.

Alexis: *yawns* Why did Ms. Fatal want us to get up this early?

Blair: It must be for some special training.

Saige: But why only us? What about the guys?

Eve: There may be 6 “guys” living at this dorm, but you’re being generous counting 4 of them.

Ash: Well, she is a very popular and influential female hero. Maybe she wants to teach us a lesson about that.

Alexis: That’s true; I remember being so amazed to hear she would be one of our teachers on the first day of school.

Blair: Me too. In middle school, I wanted to be just like her.

Saige: And you are now. You’re both unstable and love violence!

Blair: I’m not unstable!

Alexis: *under her breath* She doesn’t have a problem with the other one…

Blair: Whatever the case may be, I’m looking forward to whatever Ms. Fatal has planned.

Fatal: Hey, girls!

They all look to see Fatal on the other side of the pool area’s fencing. She’s wearing a backpack.

Ash: Oh, hey, Ms. Fat-

Fatal is holding Alden, beaten to a bloody pulp.

Alexis: Two days in a row, huh…

Fatal jumps the fence and tosses Alden into the water.

Fatal: Sorry, I’m late. I needed Alden for what I had planned today.

Saige: So why did you beat him up?

Fatal: Beat him up? I found him like this.

Silence.

Eve: So, what’s this about?

Blair: And why is it just us?

Fatal: It isn’t just you girls; we’ve got three more on the way.

Eve: Wait…

Blair: Three? Does that mean...

Grace kicks open the backdoor.

Grace: Whohoo! 6 a.m. training!

Eve: GODDAMMIT!

Sydney and Verity walk in behind Grace.

Sydney: *groans* Great, these people.

Verity: Sydney, this is a good chance for you to make nice with them. I wouldn’t waste it.

Sydney: I’ll remind you, I nearly drowned the flat-chested one twice.

Verity pauses.

Verity: I wouldn’t start with her.

The eight girls line up in front of Fatal.

Fatal: Good. Now that you’re all here, I’ll explain what we’ll be doing. You’re up against an enemy like none other… your friends. You’ve fought each other many times, but those battles were under the supervision of your mentors. They still mattered and counted, but they weren’t real. The teachers and I are trying our best to stop this tournament and mitigate the “Vanguard,” but we cannot directly confront them. That’s where you all come in. I won’t ask for details, but I’m sure some of you are already planning your own way of saving your friends. I commend you for that, but please be careful. I want to help all of you gather the strength to face your friends in authentic combat. That’s why we’re all here.

The girls are surprised by Fatal’s speech.

Fatal: I’ve worked with all of you in the past, and I know I may have earned a reputation for being the “easy-going” teacher, but that’s only by comparison. If you agree to participate in this training, you’ll see how ruthless I can be. I want to help you grow as heroes, and this unique scenario enables me to teach you some “special” lessons. So, does anyone want out?

None of the girls respond.

Fatal: Good, then let’s get started.

Ash: Can I ask first why you only wanted us girls?

Fatal: I’m a top female hero, so I take pride in the success of the next generation of heroines. Plus, the guys always get the spotlight. Also, I don’t want this initial part of our training to be awkward.

The girls look curious.

Ash: What do you mean by that?

Fatal: I need to gauge where each of you is mentally when it comes to this Vanguard situation, personally and as heroes. So I need you to answer a question for me.

Alexis: A question?

Fatal: Yup! With the Vanguard as your enemy. Tell me the person you are either afraid of losing to them or who you want to save from them the most.

Sydney: Why? What will that accomplish?!

Fatal: A lot, so I’ll need you all to be honest. We’re all friends here, so there’s no need to be anxious. We’ll start with Saige at the end of the line and then go in order. You have 5 seconds to give me an answer, okay?

Everyone nods except Sydney.

Fatal: Saige?

Saige: I really can’t see anything happening to him, but the honest answer is Hayze.

Fatal: Mhm, Ash?

Ash: Uh… I guess… uh…

Fatal: One second, Ash. There’s no need to be embarrassed.

Ash: *groans* Justus.

Saige, Alexis, and Grace: Ooh!

Fatal: Girls! Okay, Alexis, next.

Alexis: That’s easy, Aaron. I already had to fix him once.

Fatal: Eve?

Eve: I want to return Lilith to how she was; we should never have let that battle during the Exam finish.

Fatal: I see… Blair?

Blair hesitates.

Blair: (What do I say? I’m afraid of losing Hayze, but I don’t even know how to talk to him right now. No! I can’t say him! What should I do? I know!)

Fatal: Last chance, Bl-

Blair: My brother, Aster!

Everyone turns and stares at Blair.

Blair: What? Why are you all looking at me?

Fatal: Are you sure about that, Blair?

Blair: Y- yeah?

Fatal: *sighs* Stand over there.

Fatal points at the other end of the pool.

Blair: Why?

Fatal: I said your answer was important, didn’t I? This is part of the training.

Blair: O- okay…

Blair walks off.

Fatal: Continuing on, Grace.

Grace: Hm… who’s the strongest person at the school?

Fatal: In general or of the students?

Grace: Either.

Fatal: The top student is Blair’s brother.

Grace: Okay yeah, then him.

Fatal stares at Grace blankly.

Fatal: (I believe her…) Verity?

Sydney: (This one should be obvious-)

Verity: Bruno.

Everyone: Hm?

Verity: Bruno is very protective of the weak, and in this environment, I am an easy target for the Vanguard, so I worry that he will try too hard for my sake.

Eve: What about Wes? I thought you liked that dork.

Verity: I do, but he does not want anything to do with me. I would have to be a masochist to be most worried about him.

Eve: Hm, fair.

Ash: And brutal…

Alexis: Eh, Wes had it coming.

Fatal: Okay, last but not least, Sydney.

Sydney scoffs.

Sydney: Nobody.

Fatal: Okay, go stand over there with Blair.

Sydney: Wh- what do you mean! I didn’t lie like her!

Fatal: I never accused you of lying. Now start walking.

Sydney: *frustrated grunt*

Sydney joins Blair.

Fatal: Okay, now to get started.

Fatal puts down her backpack and starts rummaging through it.

Fatal: Alexis, how many times can you fold a piece of paper in half?

Alexis: Huh? Well, common wisdom says 7.

Fatal: Hm, that’s good.

Fatal pulls out a massive stack of paper.

Fatal: Then your first training exercise is to use your quirk to fold one of these pieces of paper in half 10 times.

Alexis: Wh- what?!

Fatal: Yup! Saige?

Saige: Hm?

Fatal pulls out a baseball bat and hands it to Saige.

Fatal: I want you to create a lightbulb using your quirk and smash it with this baseball bat.

Saige: Huh?!

Fatal: You’ll pass your exercise when you can stand straight and recite the entire alphabet backward with 2-second pauses between each letter after smashing the bulb.

Saige: Th- that’s insane; I can barely think and crawl, let alone talk and stand after that.

Fatal: Mhm! That’s why it’s a challenge!

Fatal places duct tape on the pool's edge.

Fatal: Ash, stand right here with your back facing the pool.

Ash: Uh, okay?

Ash stands on the line; her heels are slightly off the edge.

Ash: This is a little close to the water…

Fatal: Yup.

Fatal reaches into the bag and pulls out a baseball. She tosses it over the fence; it lands about 50 yards away.

Fatal: Your task is to take over Alden’s body and bring me that baseball. However, you can only activate your quirk while standing on this piece of tape.

Ash: What! But if I do that, I’ll fall into the water and eventually drown! Plus, that ball is so far out of my range; there’s no way I’ll get Alden there!

Fatal: Good luck.

Ash: Wh- huh?!

Fatal approaches Grace.

Grace: Yay! Me next!

Fatal pulls out five shock collars.

Grace: *excited gasp*

Fatal: Stand still.

Fatal puts a shock collar on Grace’s arms, legs, and neck.

Grace: I’m already wet.

Eve: I don’t like this…

Fatal pulls out a bouncy ball and puts it on top of Grace’s head.

Fatal: Grace, you only need to keep this ball on your head for 15 minutes straight.

Eve: Why is her’s so easy! And what are the shock collars for?

Fatal: Oh, she has to keep those on until the exercise is over, and that ball has a trigger inside it, so the moment it hits the ground, she gets shocked.

Eve: That still doesn’t seem that hard-

Grace intentionally lets the ball drop and gets electrocuted.

Grace: *moans*

Eve: Oh...

Fatal: 15 minutes restarted.

Grace starts bouncing the ball over and over.

Alexis: Those collars are gonna break…

Fatal walks over to Verity and hands her a pair of sunglasses.

Verity: What are these for?

Fatal: The lenses are 95% tinted, so looking through them is a bitch, but not impossible. I need you to read me this entire page word for word.

Fatal hands Verity a piece of paper.

Verity: What size font is this?

Fatal: 1.

Verity stares at Fatal.

Verity: Why…

Fatal: Good luck! And remember, everyone, nobody leaves until 6 p.m. sharp, so that means no breakfast or lunch!

The girls groan.

Eve: Uh… Ms. Fatal? What about me?

Fatal: Oh right, Eve.

Fatal pulls out a hairpin and puts it in her own hair.

Fatal: Your job is to steal this from me.

Eve: Wh- wh- huh? That’s it?

Fatal: Yup.

Eve: Well, that’s eas-

Fatal breaks Eve’s arm.

Eve: AHHHH! WHAT THE HELL?!

Fatal: Good luck stealing it with a broken arm.

Eve: HOW IS THAT FAIR?!

Fatal: Oh, and another rule, guys, you cannot help each other with your tasks. You can also see Recovery Girl if you get hurt; she’s expecting you.

Eve storms off.

Eve: *under her breath* God fucking dammit…

Fatal: You five get started; I need to set Blair and Sydney up with their task. I’ll check in on your progress soon.

Fatal walks off.

Alexis: Well… she said the training would be tough.

Ash: I didn’t think it would be this tough…

Fatal reaches Blair and Sydney.

Fatal: Okay, girls, it’s time for your-

Sydney: Why did you single us out? I gave you my honest answer!

Fatal: Sydney, the fact that you’re asking the question is reason enough for you to be singled out.

Sydney: Huh?

Fatal tosses two floating discs into the water.

Fatal: You two need to stand on those discs for three hours and then give me another answer.

Blair: What?!

Sydney: Why?!

Fatal: Because you clearly need some extra time to think.

Sydney: *frustrated grunt* Whatever, at least it’ll be easy.

Fatal: You can’t use your quirk to assist you, Sydney.

Sydney: Oh, come on!

Fatal: If you fall in the water, the timer resets, and you must start all over. Also, only your big toes can be on the platform.

Blair: But that’s going to make it incredibly hard to balance!

Fatal: Yup, so good luck! I hope you wore your bathing suits underneath your clothes like I told you to!

Fatal starts walking away.

Sydney: What if we change our answer now?! Why do we have to spend three hours on that platform!

Fatal smiles.

Fatal: If you’re sure of your answer, you’ll have no problem staying upright.

Fatal walks off.

Sydney: *frustrated grunt* This is so stupid! Whatever, let’s just get this over with.

Sydney strips to her swimsuit and steps into the water; she looks back at Blair, who looks shaken.

Sydney: What’s wrong with you?

Blair: I… I… um… I…

Sydney: Oh right, you’re afraid of water.

Blair: Yeah, because of you!

Sydney: No, you’re afraid because you’re weak.

Blair: No, I’m not!

Sydney: It’s called a “phobia” for a reason. They’re irrational fears; it’s in the definition. A pool this deep couldn’t drown a rat-

Sydney spots Alden.

Sydney: Well, it couldn’t drown anyone with an IQ higher than their chromosome count.

Sydney starts wading to her platform.

Sydney: Either way, I don’t care if you blame me for your fear. I did what I had to in order to win our match, so I don’t regret a thing. Whether you get in the water or not doesn’t matter to me, but if you’re going to wet yourself, do it away from the pool; it’s disgusting.

Blair: *frustrated grunt* I’ll show you!

Sydney: What? That you’re going to pee yourself?

Blair: NO! I’ll get in the damn water!

Blair looks at the pool and gets nauseous.

Blair: *under her breath* In a few minutes…

The TV powers on inside the Vanguard conference room, and Vanguard appears. All of the Vanguard lieutenants are still present.

Jace: Huh? Master? Why are you calling us so suddenly?

Karma: We just finished strategizing.

Vanguard: I’m only calling briefly to warn you that four troublemakers are entering your dorm now.

Killian: Huh? Are you kidding me?! I’ll go take care of them!

Vanguard: Chariot! Wait!

Killian: Huh?

Vanguard: These are no ordinary students; they’re the U.A. Big Four.

They’re all surprised.

Jace: Why are they coming to see us?

Vanguard: I do not know, but you must take advantage of this opportunity.

Angel: What do you mean, sir?

Vanguard: The third-year hero students allude our grasp, and recruiting them would be a decisive blow toward the remaining student population. If you can bring just 1 of the Big Four into our ranks…

Isaiah: Then, the strongest students on campus will soon be amongst us.

Vanguard: Exactly.

Jace: Okay, Master, we’ll bring one of them in.

Vanguard: Good. I’ll check in with you tomorrow night.

The screen powers off.

Karma: Well? How does this affect your plan?

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Jace: You and Lovers continue with your assignments. Fly out the window to avoid the Big Four. Chariot, Temperance, and Empress, you’re with me.

Aster, Daniele, Yul, and Tyson enter the building. The common area is candlelit, and nobody is around.

Tyson: Well, this isn’t creepy at all.

Aster: Stay on your toes, guys. I don’t trust anything going on here.

Yul: Since the Vanguard consistently skips classes, at least one member should be here.

Aster: Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. There’s no way this dorm is empty right now. Daniele and Tyson, stay here; Yul and I will start searching.

Daniele clears her throat.

Aster: *sighs* Oh right… Dani and Tyson stay here.

Daniele: Thank you.

Tyson and Yul: Huh?

Aster: Come on, Yul.

Aster and Yul start walking upstairs.

Yul: What’s that about?

Aster: I don’t want to talk about it…

Tyson scoffs.

Tyson: So what do you want us to call you Dani now?

Daniele: Nope, just Aster.

Tyson: Oh… I see… this is what you used your bet winnings on… I like it.

Daniele: Forcing a pet name on him is a lot of fun.

Tyson: Yeah, and thank god you’re not making me do it. I’ve got three years of calling you Daniele under my belt; I can’t throw those away now.

Daniele: Asshole.

Tyson: What! Nicknames are stupid!

Lilith: May I help you two?

Tyson and Daniele: Huh?

Lilith appears out of nowhere.

Tyson: Woah! Where did you come from!

Lilith: Sorry, I was in the laundry room. I ran out of clean underwear, so I needed to put all of it in the wash.

Tyson raises one eyebrow.

Tyson: All of it, you say…

Lilith: Mhm.

Tyson: Well, that’s-

Daniele gets in between Tyson and Lilith.

Daniele: Don’t you have any pride? You shouldn’t talk about that to a man.

Lilith: Oops, sorry. I should be less forward.

Tyson: I was okay with the other approach-

Daniele steps on Tyson’s foot.

Tyson: AHH! YOU BITCH!

Tyson hops around in pain.

Lilith: What brings you two to our dorm?

Daniele: Cut the crap, Lilith. I know you’re trying to take advantage of Tyson by flirting with him.

Lilith’s eyes narrow.

Lilith: My name is Empress, and I’ll remind you of that just once.

Daniele stares at Lilith.

Daniele: I remember when you were an innocent and sweet girl. This change is downright disgusting.

Lilith: Would you get mad at someone if they quit smoking?

Daniele: Wh- what?

Lilith: I’m better now than I was before, but you seem to have a problem with that. So, I have a problem with you.

Daniele: Yeah, the feeling is mutual.

Tyson recovers.

Tyson: Are you the only one here? Because Aster and Yul went looking for people just before you showed up.

Lilith: I’m afraid the rest of my dormmates went searching for new members to join our club.

Daniele: Your “club,” eh?

Tyson: Well, we should go fetch Aster and Yul then.

Tyson starts walking to the stairs.

Lilith: Oh, don’t leave yet. I enjoyed your company so much!

Tyson: Oh, you were, were you?

Daniele gets mad.

Daniele: Non pensare con il tuo pene, Tyson. [Don't think with your dick, Tyson.]

Tyson: Non lo sono, Daniele. Posso vedere attraverso di lei. Non preoccuparti, ho un piano. [I'm not, Daniele. I can see right through her. Don't worry, I've got a plan.]

Daniele: Faresti meglio. [You'd better.]

Tyson points at Lilith’s SS Badge, displaying 64 points.

Tyson: You seem to have a lot of points. Enjoying the tournament so far?

Lilith: Oh, these? I just beat on some scrawny first-years. Nothing too impressive.

Lilith points at Tyson’s 32 points.

Lilith: You’ve also been doing well.

Tyson: Yeah, you know, it’s easy when you’re one of the four best students in the whole school.

Lilith: It must be.

Daniele looks back and forth at Lilith and Tyson.

Daniele: (They’re both angling towards it, but who’ll make the first move?)

Jace watches from the shadows, out of sight of Daniele and Tyson.

Jace: (Tyson Ross is a brilliant fighter, but more dangerously… he’s a talented gambler.)

Jace holds up his right hand. A dark-gray pulsating goo grows seemingly out of nowhere in his palm.

Jace: (But even the highest rollers need a bit of luck on their side!)

The goo leaps off Jace’s hand and slithers up Tyson’s pant leg. It then secretes into Tyson’s skin, leaving a dark gray three-leaved clover symbol.

Jace: *laughs quietly*

Aster and Yul meander through the dorm hallways, knocking on each room’s door.

Yul: I’m starting to become convinced nobody is here.

Aster: Either that or they’re just really good at hide and seek.

Yul: Aster, we should leave.

Aster: Hm? Why?

Yul: We’re the Big Four, the top students at U.A. we shouldn’t be acting recklessly. What if this is all a trap?

Aster: A trap? That would imply they knew we were coming.

Yul: I know, but doesn’t this seem off to you?

Aster: Of course, but it doesn’t make any sense why they would be prepared for us. Even if they had pre-established plans, they would have at least needed a heads-up we were coming.

Yul: That’s why I’m saying we should leave. We don’t know enough about what the Vanguard does and doesn’t control about the school right now. This is their home turf, not ours, and we can’t act like we have the advantage.

Aster thinks for a moment.

Aster: Okay, you’re right. We can head back.

Aster and Yul start walking to the stairs.

Isaiah: Leaving so soon?

Aster and Yul: Hm?

They turn around to see Isaiah standing at the end of the hallway.

Aster: Oh… so someone finally decided to come to see us.

Isaiah: Yes, I thought I should be cordial and greet you.

Isaiah takes a bow.

Aster: Huh?

Yul: Be careful, Aster. This version of Isaiah is very different from the one I’ve trained in the past.

Aster: Don’t worry. Blair told me about this guy.

Isaiah: My former self was quite appalling. My apologies, but the light has purified my soul.

Aster: Are you the one in charge here?

Isaiah: There is no one “in charge.”

Aster scoffs.

Aster: Yeah… right.

Isaiah: Do you not believe me?

Aster: No, I’m sarcastic when people tell me something true.

Isaiah: Hm, well, we can always play a game to get the truth out.

Isaiah reveals his SS Badge with 74 points.

Isaiah: What do you say? 10 points each? If you win, I’ll tell you who’s in command of the Vanguard?

Aster: And what do you get for winning?

Isaiah: The same thing I ask of all of my opponents, to join the Vanguard.

Yul: Aster, you can’t accept those stakes.

Aster: You’re right, and I won’t.

Isaiah shrugs.

Isaiah: Suit yourself, but you’re not getting your desired information.

Aster: I guess not.

Awkward silence.

Yul: No matter how confident we are, we can’t accept those stakes, no matter what.

Aster: Yeah, there’s only one guy I trust to win a bet like that, guaranteed.

Yul: We should take our leave.

Aster: Yeah… this guy gives me the creeps.

Aster and Yul start walking down the stairs.

Aster: Let’s hook up with Dani and Tyson and-

Aster and Yul reach the bottom of the stairs. However, they see Isaiah standing at the end of the hallway.

Aster: Wh- what?

Yul: How did he get down so quickly?

Aster: Yeah, and wait a second… this is another floor of dorm rooms…

Yul: Yeah… it is.

Aster: The floor below us should have been the common area.

Aster and Yul look at each other.

Aster: You go up a floor, I go down one.

Yul: Yup.

They both do as such. However, once they reach the end of their staircases… They bump into each other.

Yul: It’s just as I feared…

Isaiah is standing at the end of the hallway with a smile.

Isaiah: So, are you ready to accept my offer?

Alexis desperately tries to fold the paper for the 8th time.

Alexis: Jesus Christ, this is tough…

Saige: You think you have it bad?

Saige is lying on the ground in awful pain from her migraines.

Saige: I think I could get blackout drunk every night between now and Sunday and still feel better than I do now…

Ash emerges from the water, desperately catching her breath. Alden is unconscious on the other side of the fence.

Ash: I just don’t have enough time… I don’t know how she expects me to do this!

Verity: These tasks are challenging.

Alexis: What line are you on?

Verity: It’s been about half an hour, and I believe I have the first sentence complete.

Alexis: What is it?

Verity: “The man shivered.”

Alexis stares at Verity.

Alexis: Well… that bites.

Verity: It could also be snickered. I’m not sure.

Ash: At least we’re making progress, unlike someone…

They all look at Grace; she’s passed out, drenched in sweat.

Saige: A woman should only be able to dream of having that many orgasms in a day.

Alexis, Ash, and Verity: Amen.

Sydney is shakily balancing on her platform. Blair has gotten in the water and reached her platform but hasn’t attempted to get on it.

Sydney: What are you waiting for? Three hours is a long time.

Blair: I don’t want my head to go under the water, okay?

Sydney: It won’t if you don’t fall.

Blair: That’s the problem.

Sydney: *sighs* You might as well call your boyfriend and ask him for help.

Blair: Hayze is not my boyfriend! (Wait… what did I just say…)

Sydney: Touchy… I guess he must have pissed you off.

Sydney flashes back to the previous day when she ate lunch with Verity.

Sydney: I can’t believe you’re friends with that simpleton, Hayze.

Verity: I’ve worked with him in the past, and he’s a close friend of someone I’m “close” with. He’s also proven to be very trustworthy.

Sydney: Well… I won’t deny that, but he grinds my gears.

Verity: I hear the same applies to some of his former classmates. Perhaps you could use that to get close to them.

Sydney scoffs.

Sydney: Yeah, right.

The flashback ends.

Sydney: *sighs* So, he’s not your boyfriend?

Blair: W- well, it’s uh… complicated.

Sydney: What, did he annoy you?

Blair: K- kind of… he… he made a choice I didn’t like, and I felt like he was breaking a promise to me.

Sydney: What does “felt like” mean? He either did or didn’t.

Blair: That’s why it’s complicated. He didn’t, but… I reacted like he did and lashed out at him.

“ Hayze: Don’t ever tell me what I can’t do. “ - Chapter 159

Blair: I guess the hardest part for me was that… It felt like I didn’t know him the way I thought I did. I feel like I betrayed him, and now I don’t know how to face him.

Sydney: Really? It’s that hard?

Blair: Yeah, it is.

Sydney: You realize you’re talking about a guy with five different personalities, right?

Blair: Y- yeah, so?

Sydney: Verity told you those personalities have feelings for other women, which means he has eyes for girls other than you. He should apologize to you every day for making you deal with that. He’s an annoying pest, so don’t act like he’s this night in shining armor for you.

Blair stares at Sydney.

Blair: You know… I never thought about it that way.

Sydney: Hell, I nearly killed you, and he still acts nice to me. Shouldn’t that piss you off?

Blair’s eyes widen.

“ Hayze: I’ll always see the good that exists deep inside someone and help bring it to the surface. That’s part of who I am, and I refuse to change that about myself. “ - Episode 163

Blair: Yeah… it should.

Sydney: I don’t know why you’re attracted to him.

Blair looks at her platform.

Blair: I do…

Blair climbs on top of it and starts balancing.

Sydney: Hm?

Sydney loses her balance and falls into the water.

Sydney: *frustrated grunt* This is so stupid!

Fatal is watching all of the girls from inside 2-A’s dorm.

Fatal: (They’re getting there, slowly.)

Adrian enters the dorm.

Adrian: There you are.

Fatal: Did you miss me that much?

Adrian walks up to Fatal and stands beside her.

Adrian: I didn’t think Damien and Houston were being serious when they said you took all of their female students out of class for special training. I had to see it for myself.

Fatal: What? You don’t think I can be a mentor?

Adrian: No, I’m just surprised they agreed to let these kids miss class for the foreseeable future.

Fatal: It isn't a big deal considering that 90% of the school isn’t attending classes right now.

Adrian: Very true, but… can I ask what you have them doing?

Fatal: Alexis, Ash, Grace, Saige, and Verity are improving their skills with their quirks, either by strengthening their abilities or learning to overcome their limitations or weaknesses. Once they pass this exercise, they’ll automatically be much more powerful because of it.

Adrian: Yeah, that makes sense, but what about Blair and Sydney?

Fatal: They didn’t answer correctly when I asked who they most wanted to protect or save. That tells me they lack motivation, and there’s no point in training someone if they don’t have that. So, they’re trying to find it.

Adrian: And how does balancing on water do that?

Fatal: You need perfect concentration, your mind must be at ease, and most importantly, you need a reason to get back up after falling.

Adrian: Hm…

Adrian watches as Sydney falls off again; Blair is holding steady.

Adrian: It looks like at least one of them has that down.

Fatal: I think Sydney will get it soon.

Adrian: Oh, and what about Eve?

Fatal: She said she wanted to save Lilith… which makes me worried that she might do something reckless.

Adrian: So, you set her up with a different task?

Fatal: Yeah, if she can outsmart me, then she’s at least close to ready.

Eve returns from Recovery Girl’s office, fully healed.

Eve: Alright, now I’m ready!

Fatal cracks her knuckles.

Fatal: Come and get it.

Adrian smiles.

Adrian: Well, good luck with that. I’ll catch up with you later.

Fatal: Cya!

Adrian leaves the dorm and starts walking back to the main school building.

Adrian: (Rachel can be cute when she’s excited about little things.)

Adrian spots Vanguard coming in his direction.

Vanguard: Good morning, Adrian; how are you today?

Adrian: I’m fine, how about you?

Vanguard: Oh, it’s a beautiful day. I thought I’d take a stroll.

Adrian: Yeah, and admire your work.

Vanguard: Hm? What are you talking about?

Adrian: Look around. This place is in shambles because of you and your stupid tournament.

Vanguard chuckles.

Adrian: What’s so funny?

Vanguard: Adrian, my friend, I may have come up with the idea, but the tournament was agreed on by a majority of the teachers. Furthermore, saying this school is in “shambles” is a matter of opinion.

Adrian: How so?

Vanguard: I think seeing the students, so unified and happy is great. Depression can be a very prominent thing amongst youths, you know. So seeing all of the students feeling so fulfilled is quite relieving as a teacher.

Adrian: That’s awesome and all, but have you noticed almost none of the students are actually attending classes? This is a school, you know.

Vanguard thinks for a moment.

Vanguard: I guess you have a point. Let's create a new rule saying all students must attend classes to stay in the tournament.

Adrian: That’s a good idea, but it should have been in the rules in the first place.

Vanguard: We couldn’t have predicted these events, Adrian.

Adrian: *nasal grunt*

Adrian walks past Vanguard.

Adrian: Enjoy the rest of your walk.

Vanguard: I have the feeling you don’t like me, Adrian.

Adrian: You’re right; I don’t.

Vanguard: Well, that’s unfortunate; I was hoping we could get to know each other to make up for our rocky beginnings.

Adrian looks back at Vanguard.

Adrian: I’d rather not.

Vanguard: Can I ask you a simple question, then?

Adrian: What is it?

Vanguard: You were a student here, correct?

Adrian: Yes, now I’ll see you late-

Vanguard: Ewing told me you were one of the best and brightest pupils he ever had.

Adrian: He did, huh?

Vanguard: Yes, but that made me wonder why your hero career never took off. He said you left for a long time and only returned a year ago to join this school’s faculty.

Adrian: Yeah, that’s right.

Vanguard: Can I ask where you were all that time?

Adrian stares at Vanguard.

Adrian: Training.

Vanguard: For what?

Adrian: Staying in shape, that’s all.

Vanguard: I see…

Adrian: Anyway, have a good day, Mr. Butler.

Adrian starts walking away again.

Vanguard: Adrian, I actually have one more question.

Adrian: *frustrated grunt*

Adrian turns around to face Vanguard again.

Adrian: You know, you’re starting to get on my-

Vanguard removes his glove and places the glowing Alpha Ring against Adrian’s forehead.

Vanguard: Where were you all that time?

Adrian: In the Mountains, guarding the Theta Ring.

Vanguard smiles; he removes the ring from Adrian and puts his glove back on. Then, after a few moments, Adrian begins moving again.

Adrian: Nerves! What do you want?!

Vanguard: Nothing, nothing. I’m sorry; go on with your day.

Adrian scoffs and leaves.

Vanguard: (So my suspicions were correct. U.A. is the central location where the rings are dispersed. So… I’m right where I need to be.)

Aaron, Hayze, Silver, Gus, and Wes are all gathered together by a set of benches on campus. Wes is standing farther off by himself.

Aaron: It’s good to see you again, Hayze.

Silver: We thought we’d get an explanation a little sooner.

Hayze: Sorry, I’ve been getting acclimated to 2-B, plus all this Vanguard crap has kept me a little busy. I’m glad we were able to meet here today, though.

Silver: It’s too bad the girls couldn’t come; they had special training with Fatal today.

Hayze: Mhm, Sydney, Verity, and Grace are with them. It’s okay, though. We don’t need to be long. We just need to be on the same page.

Aaron: Right, let’s start with the Vanguard. What’s the plan here?

Hayze: I’m trying to rally the 2-B students together. They’re strong but scattered. They aren’t a cohesive group the way we are.

Silver: More like were.

Hayze: Huh?

Aaron: Justus, Zach, and Kevin are still in the hospital, while Angel, Jace, Lilith, Karma, and Isaiah are brainwashed. Plus, we lost you and only got Gus back today.

Gus waves hello.

Hayze: It’s really that bad?

Silver: It’s a bit of an adjustment… but we have some new info.

Hayze: Hm? Shoot.

Silver: The heads of the Vanguard, a.k.a. Our classmates, have taken over a first-year dorm and made it their own. Alden was captured for a few days and apparently overheard Jace refer to someone as their “master.”

Hayze: So it’s confirmed that they’re reporting to someone else. Probably the guy who started this whole mess.

Aaron: Yeah, so all we gotta do now is find that bastard or bitch and kick his or her ass.

Silver: It also means that their dorm could be chock full of helpful information.

Hayze: So… we need to either get a spy or someone to leave the Vanguard.

Silver: Yes, we do.

Hayze: That could be an excellent first mission for bringing 2-B together.

Aaron: Oh yeah? And what should we do?

Hayze: The same thing, but prioritizing our- your classmates.

Gus: I don’t know, Hayze… they seem pretty tough.

Silver: I don’t doubt our ability to defeat them, but if we were to lose… they would only get stronger.

Hayze: That’s why you need to pick your fights carefully. I’m sorry I can’t help, but I know you guys can do it.

Silver: Right.

Aaron: Eh, whatever, we’ll kick their asses, and I say we start with Jace. Teach that bitch a lesson for getting this whole mess started!

Gus: Jace is my friend, but I kind of agree…

Angel spots the five of them from afar.

Angel: (Perfect…)

Angel holds out his arm, and a black and pink bow materializes in his hand.

Angel: It’s time for the Lovers to get their ammunition.

Angel takes aim at Hayze, and after about 10 seconds, Hayze’s full name appears as a tattoo on Angel’s arm.

Angel: *quiet laugh*

Angel repeats this process for Silver, Wes, Gus, and Aaron. Eventually, amassing all of their names as tattoos on his body.

Angel: Now, let’s see what trouble I can cause.

Angel flies off.

Hayze: Well, I’d like to stick around longer, but Adrian agreed to take me to the hospital to visit the others, so I need to go meet up with him.

Silver: That’s alright; say hi to Justus, Zach, and Kevin for me.

Hayze: I will, don’t worry. Oh, and before I go, I have a present for you, Wes.

Wes: Huh? Me?

Hayze goes to his bag and grabs a sheathed sword; he tosses it to Wes.

Wes: A sword?

Hayze: Tara finished making it today. Since she’s the only sane support student, she has access to all the equipment she wants. I think she’s going insane with power.

Wes: Cool, but I don’t know how to use a sword.

Aaron: Yeah, and I feel like there’s a 90% chance that thing is cutting off one of my arms someday.

Hayze grabs the sword and unsheathes it.

Hayze: You see this metal part?

Wes: Y- yeah?

Hayze: Make it a mirror.

Wes stares blankly at Hayze for 10 seconds.

Wes: Why have I never thought of this…

Hayze: Because you’re stupid; anyway, I’ll catch you guys later.

Hayze starts walking away.

Silver: Wait, Hayze, before you go, you forgot to tell us why Mr. Walker moved you out of our class so suddenly?

Hayze stops and doesn’t answer immediately.

Aaron: Yeah… I’m curious about that too.

Hayze: I made a choice… one that he disagreed with.

Wes: Oh, is he punishing you for going after the Vampire Queen?

Hayze: No… something else.

Aaron: What else is there?

Hayze thinks for a moment.

Hayze: You remember the Masked Girl, right?

Silver: Of course we do.

Hayze: She’s not getting charged for anything she’s ever done, including E.M.D.’s death… because of me.

All of them are shocked.

Aaron: WHAT DID YOU DO?!

Hayze: I negotiated with the police.

Aaron: WHY?!

Hayze: Because she never wanted to be a criminal, she was forced to.

Aaron: SO WHAT?! Hayze, that girl is a murderer, kidnapper, and an accessory to terrorism! It doesn’t matter if she did or didn’t want to do it!

Silver flashes back to Ivy killing Hayze.

Hayze: Yes, it does, Aaron. She doesn’t have that evil in her heart. She was a victim of the way our society treats people with extremely powerful quirks. She could have had a normal life and grown up to be a good person, but instead, she was forced to live a life of crime. Not all murderers are built the same.

Silver: This girl has terrorized our class for the last year and tried and succeeded in killing you, Hayze. How can you say that she isn’t evil?

Hayze: Because that first night, when I “saved” Blair from her. I didn’t do anything; she let me go.

Aaron: So what?!

Hayze: It proved to me that she wasn’t the person Iota was making her be, and I was right when she saved everyone’s life at the facility.

Aaron: Not mine.

Hayze: I don’t care.

Aaron stares at Hayze.

Aaron: I can’t believe you. Do you actually care more about that murderous bitch than your own friends?

Hayze: No, when did I say I did?

Aaron: I want to beat the shit out of you right now! You betrayed our entire class by doing that! She deserved every minute of prison time she was going to get!

Hayze: Maybe, but she’s not that same person anymore.

Aaron: Oh, is that supposed to make it better?! I don’t care who you are, a murderer is a murderer, and she belongs behind bars or dead!

Hayze’s eyes narrow.

Hayze: Really, Aaron? What about me? I’ve killed three people.

Aaron: Cool, Wes and I killed a guy during the latest mission, but as heroes, we can-

Hayze: I’m not talking about the mission.

Aaron: Huh?

Hayze pulls out his phone and starts recording.

Hayze: Remember how I missed that first day of school after our internships finished? It was because I was recovering from the first time Khaos took over my body. He killed that giant, Adonis, from the night in the forest.

Silver: Wait, what?

Hayze: Do you remember Dr. Moore?

Wes: You mean the person that gave you your quirk?

Hayze: Yeah… I killed her when Khaos took over my body during the Showcase Festival.

The guys are shocked.

Hayze: The school covered it up because they deemed Khaos responsible… and I shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences of his actions... because we’re not the same person.

Hayze wipes his eyes.

Hayze: By law, I’m a murderer, Aaron.

Hayze tosses his phone to Aaron.

Hayze: And there’s a confession. So, there you go, Aaron. Do you want to put this murderer where he belongs?

Aaron stares at Hayze’s phone briefly before tossing it back to Hayze. Then, he walks away without saying a word.

Gus: Hey! Aaron! Wait up!

Gus chases after Aaron. Hayze, Silver, and Wes stand there in silence.

Hayze: I’ve gotta g-

Silver: Tell me, Hayze…

Hayze: Hm?

Silver: Did you actually see Jake when you died?

Hayze: Yeah, I did, and he told me not to give up on her.

Silver: And you didn’t.

Hayze: No, and I don’t regret a thing.

Hayze walks off.