A young teenager with long, light brown hair and silvery highlights of various shades, some with white tips and others with black tips – firmly strutted down the halls.

Confidence wrote itself all over her face: confidence in her strength, confidence in her resolute ideals, confidence in her saught-after beauty, confidence in her position as both the number 1 ‘ Generational King’ and this school’s future number 1 freshman.

Her right hand held onto a stub of a hilt, lacking all semblance of a blade ever being attached. In fact, there didn’t even appear to be an indentation, nor a crevasse where a blade could even be fitted inside! It appeared just like an ordinary decorated stick! Any form of presence it should have held as a weapon, was entirely missing from this ‘hilt’ of hers. Despite this clearly being the case, her grip on it only grew tighter with each and every step. Within her left hand was a pair of chocolate boxes. Without suspense, a door entered her gaze at last.”

*Knock – Knock – Knock*

Noel: “Dammit all, another visitor…COME IN!!!”

*CREEEAKK*

Nilia: “Hello? I heard from Savanna, the girl that just paid a visit here, that you both might have a case of amnesia-”

Noel: “Ah. It’s that big mouthed girl from the assembly!”

Rise: “...Really? Her face looks somewhat forgettable to me. Maybe my eyes are just used to better – looking chicks! Hahaha.”

Nilia: “…(That Savannah… what part of this looks like he has amnesia?! They’re completely fine!)I’m sorry, but, what did you call me?”

Noel: “Rise, that’s not nice. Say your sorry. Look at how pitiful she looks - You might make her cry.”

Nilia: “…”

Rise: “Haha! Fine, fine – I’m sorry little pampered miss~ Hehe.”

Nilia: “…”

Noel: “Mhm! Much better.”

Nilia: “Hey. Boy. I asked you a question. Did you just call me a big mouth? You better have a good reason for saying as much. Because if not…”

Noel: “’Boy’?

…

Hehehe~ Naturally, I have a very good reason for calling you that. Why would I say something without reason?”

Nilia: “...Well? What is it then? This better be goo-”

Noel: “Hehe, the reason that I called you a big mouth is obviously because you have a big mouth~ Annoyingly big~ Ahaha!”

Nilia: “!! Why you little…!

.

.

…Haah. No, forget it. It seems like you still haven’t learned your lesson, even after those villains taught you the price of running your defenseless mouths in a school made for super powered hero aspirants.”

Rise: “...(This rude, disrespectful and despicable little piece of shit. She actually dares to speak this way in front of injured students? Just like I thought… ‘Herotopia’ may not be openly villainous, but the mindsets of so many people here… they feel a little… tainted. Sorta like budding villains. But, is it just my imagination running wild? After all, there was supposedly a war that happened, right? This could all be the work of a couple of grudges that’ve been passed down from family member to family member; spreading the hatred along.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

…AAH fuck! I ain’t no investigator! This place may feel really weird, but it still feels loads better then that nest of Barbarians! Besides, a little evil ain’t so bad. Reminds me of home, even. Heheh.)”

Noel: “Hmm, those villains did teach me one thing. That the board of trustees of this school failed to properly do their job at ‘protecting’ us non-combatants. Why, was there a specific ‘lesson those villains were supposed to teach me about? Please, do enlighten me then, miss Big-Mouthed Queen. Hehe.”

Her hand clenched tightly around those chocolate boxes. Did he just … did he just criticize her grandmother? This powerless…worm! However, her hand loosened the very moment she remembered her stepfather’s report. The woman, her grandmother, actually DID have a hand to play in this whole affair. With that knowledge, it became very hard to NOT harbor deep shame in her allegiance. But she was as powerless as her stepfather with regards to this whole matter. Because, much like the Principal; her and her stepfather, ALSO had no choice but to obey. For the sake of a loved one that they held dear…

Nilia: “*Clenches fist, then loosens* The lesson you should have learned… is that this school isn’t safe!”

Maybe it was the deep resentment she held towards her own actions. Maybe it was instead, the stinging sensation each of Noel’s dagger-like words brought forth – but for some strange reason, unbeknownst to Noel and Rise, Nilia’s resentful gaze carried tears.”

Noel: “…”

{Huh? Why is she crying? Did I do something wrong to make her cry…? It can’t be, right? She’s the one who acted rude with me first – I mean, her frickin’ flunky tried to kill me earlier!

…Should – Should I apologize or something?}

Nilia: “…*Wipes tears quickly* I...I apologize. I was angry and I couldn’t hold it back.”

Rise: “PFFFFFT…! Gahahahahaha! How pathetic! THIS is the woman who did Elijah in?? I’ve met some very powerful women in my life – my mother included. But y’know…? All I smell from you…

Hehehe...Well…”

Nilia: “Forget it. I came to visit only because I heard you both got injured, yet survived. This is why I said that the lot of you should leave quickly…! Before you all get dragged into… into anything worse…”

Noel: “No.”

Nilia: “…”

Noel: “Mmm, listen … sorry, but I don’t actually know your name. Umm, what did the peanut gallery call you by…? Rage-”

Nilia: “It’s Nilia.”

Noel: “Ah, okay. Then, listen closely, Nilia: No matter how dangerous this school becomes, YOUR jobs as future heroes, is to protect me. To protect Rise over here. If ANYTHING happens to the two of us, then all of you might as well forget about being heroes.”

Nilia: “Why don’t you fucking get it already?! If I don’t save you, then the worst thing that can happen to me is I fail high school and am no longer suited to becoming a Superhero but YOU… the worst thing that can befall someone weak like YOU is death! The SIDEKICKS are all stronger than you are! With your brains, as a prodigy you can do good in other places! Why do you insist on staying here!?!?!? There are EVEN OTHER SCHOOLS with better facilities and security guards who’re more equipped for the task of protecting their students! Why do you insist on staying inside of this school…? This school where… where you almost lost your life…?”

Noel stared at her cautiously. Methodically, he gauged her state of mind, her insinuated words, the intent behind her outburst and of course, whether she was truly expecting for him to answer her question or if she was simply venting – with he as her outlet.

Rise was using this opportunity to train himself at being a fly on the wall. Masking his ‘presence’ and hiding his intent from others were tactics animals performed admirably. He wasn’t as good, but all the more reason to practice.

Finally, after a moment or two in deep, silent contemplation, the youngest in the room spoke up.

Noel: “You know, I have to ask. If you are so scared of a little bit of danger, then why are you even attending Hero High? I just woke up. Yes, I was injured by villainous mercenaries and yes, it caused me to lose faith in the ‘Heroes’ attending this school, as well as protecting it. But, I came here fully prepared for the dangers I may face. Even though those ‘dangers’ were supposed to come from student heroes – in – training and NOT a clearly premeditated attack… but whatevs. *Shrugs* Point is, I’m prepared to face danger while at this school; but I’M not the one who should be changing. YOU people are. There’s a possibility of danger here? Okay, then.

Get rid of it.

I might die at the hands of more ruthless villain attacks on Hero High School? Or even at the hands of clumsy high schoolers unable to control their powers? In that case…

Make sure that it doesn’t happen by doing your jobs properly and protecting me.

What’s so hard to understand? Unless you lack resolve as heroes, you shouldn’t be trying to drive me away. But if you ‘Realist’ folks are that scared of me getting hurt, then it could only mean that you all aren’t confident at keeping us safe. And if you can’t even keep your confidence together when saving a civilian like me, then… heheh, why in the world are any of you trying to become heroes in the first place?”

Nilia: “...(He’s… so stubborn. Fine. Forget it then. I tried to protect him from grandma, I did everything that I could think of to convince him. Ever...Everything that I could…

...Yeah.)”

Noel: “Well? Anything else?”

Rise: “Heheh~ Y’know I… never finished telling you what I picked up from your unique scent.”

Nilia: “?”

Rise: “All I smell from you right now…

is an annoyingly thick and pungent, deep-seated fear. Confusion, malice sorrow, pride, contempt, anger… but behind everything...is an annoyingly suffocating vague sensation of fear. What’s got you so terrified, miss scaredy queen?”

Nilia: “…There’s nothing I can do to stop you to from staying here. Just don’t regret your actions when even more shit hits the fan.

*Plop!*

These are small gifts for you two. They’re get well soon gifts. I’ll be going now.”

*...Click!*

---