Got it? First day, Monday, is Gym, then Medical 101: Emergency treatment and Beginner’s guide to healing magic, followed by Self Defense for Dummies – an introduction on learning how to protect yourself from danger in critical moments, Science on a computer, and then math on a computer.
Tuesday… heheh, well now, that one’s different. For the morning, your first class is Self Defense for Dummies – Battlefield responses and an intro into key submission holds. There will be key information regarding ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ and both common and uncommon, yet effective grappling methods to manipulate your opponent from various angles.”
Rise: “Wait! *Sniff - Sniff* something smells… *Sniff – sniff* …fishy.
...Are these really classes meant to be taken by non – combatants?? And why the heck do non – combatants have to take combat courses TWICE?!?! We should be undergoing more… more dainty stuff… like floor sweeping or whistle blowing, shouldn’t we?? Noel, back me up here!
(If so much of our focus is wasted on this schoolwork and class attendance stuff, then how do we even investigate other school abnormalities… like that group, or even… the ‘weird’ students with unconfirmed backgrounds? Trying to force his students to fight when they never even signed up for such things, is this old man out of his mind?!)”
Noel: “…Don’t tell me what to do.”
Rise: “...(Shouldn’t somebody as suspicious and over-curious as you be even more concerned about this full schedule than me…?)”
Noel: “…With that said, Mr. Abrams. I don’t believe this was what I signed up for. I signed up for relaxed cleaning and first aid treatment, not martial arts.”
{If I wanted to keep practicing such bloody things, then I’d have just stayed home!}
Mr. Abrams: “Huh? Cleaning? Why the fuck would our school raise you in a unique Hero-filled environment, just to become some silly janitors? The only ‘cleaning’ you guys and girls are responsible for, is superhero clean up. Taking care of the aftermath of a situation is dangerous, but necessary work, after all. Somebody has to do it.”
Noel: “?!!”
Rise: “?!!”
Mr. Abrams: “…Sure enough, haah. Judging by your expressions, I assume you believed such nonsense regarding ‘cleaning the school for the other students’?”
Both youthful boys could only nod their heads in agreement. They really did believe such a stupid role was their newfound duty.
Furthermore…
they were counting on it! After all, with their speed, cleaning a building or two would only take a second or 3. There was nothing to worry about if they could get it done, then have fun by exploring the campu—err, investigate the other suspicious students on campus!
Mr. Abrams: “Okay! Listen up, you two: We would never shame or degrade any of our students for any reason, whatsoever. A proper teacher encourages their respective student body. They do NOT demoralize the future of their society, understood?”
Noel: “……Stupid. Then why say it…”
Mr. Abrams: “Haaaah. This is a complicated question. For one, it’s because the public thoroughly misunderstood on their own at the mention of ‘cleaning’ in passing, while our school’s representative was busy describing a non – combatant’s official duties, in the beginning. On top of that, our school was too lazy in their initial response over the discovered misunderstanding – claiming that they would all learn eventually, once school starts. They even took things further and aided the misunderstanding by not denying it outright.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
In truth, that last bit was all due to our third reason; Principal Leyman had been ordered by the Board of Trustees to approve of the rumors until you all are able to properly take care of yourselves. After all, those old coots have to pay special attention to the school’s reputation, and if the public knew we were going to train you all for such dangerous jobs, there will no doubt be some small voices of resentment that try to drag Hero High School’s name down the drain. So everyone started accepting it.
…
...Hm?
…Now isn’t that strange.
Your classmates took it easier than you two seem to be doing. Why are you both staring at me with such sad faces?(I can’t imagine somebody looking forward to cleaning toilets and floors THAT badly…)”
Noel: “…No reason.”
Rise: “…...Nothin’s wrong. I ain’t angry… *Grumbles*”
Mr. Abrams: “…Hm. Well regardless, You all have Self Defense 101 first thing Tuesday, and YES you did, in fact, sign up for those courses… it was described in the *Ahem* REALLY fine print. You only failed to notice it. Trust me.”
Noel and Rise: “…”
Mr. Abrams: “Second class on Tuesday, is in fact, Survival basics. This is an interesting combination of classes to take together, and some of your self defense courses may be adamantly tested here to ensure that you’ve properly grasped the basic principles behind each lesson. Not all Tuesdays will be a joint combination of these two classes. Rest assured.
Language arts is normally traded for English in other countries that speak… well, English. But here in Herotopia, you’re actually required to learn 6 of the primary world languages before you can graduate and enter a university. English is a given, being the most spoken language in the world. Some people have favorites while a few others just learn based on the most spoken languages in the world at the time.
Personally however, I recommend learning THREE Western languages and THREE Eastern languages of your choice for stability. As you’re both only entering high school for the first time, you will be obligated to take ‘Introductory to World Languages’ on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Language Arts is also mixed into this course, but only a touch up of the different possible languages you can explore here in Hero High, from your second year onwards.”
Rise: “SIX LANGUAGES?! Why in the hell do I have to learn so many fucking languages for?? For that I- ...fuck being a non – combatant; I might as well find work in the future as a translator!”
Mr. Abrams: “Being a Herotopian citizen is NOT the same as being an ordinary country’s citizen. Here, we have close ties to many nations both big and small. Everyone has unanimously agreed to send us most of their superhero candidates regardless of gender, ethnicity or previous nationality. Here, everybody changes nationalities from their former country to the equally serving Nation of Heroes who serve peace and Justice to all – equally. Given our close ties to every Nation, we naturally have to properly communicate with them. Heroes from Herotopia are also held in a much higher regard than National superheroes – because we are global Heroes that serve every nation in times of crises. We don’t belong to any fixed country, but instead serve as a global mediator and upholder of justice to all, and for all. Being global heroes, regardless of our personal feelings, we will be expected to communicate with these nations properly, and NOT with the help of some half-assed technology.”
Rise: “But we’re NOT heroes! We’re just non – combatants!! The clean-up crew…!”
Mr. Abrams: “And what is the ‘clean up crew’ expected to do?”
Rise: “………Clean up?”
Mr. Abrams: “Exactly. ‘Clean up’ the aftermath of Hero and Villain encounters. Although we primarily fight here on Spes Nova while preventing Villain Haven from expanding their reach as much as possible to the other countries – there IS an occasional few villain encounters overseas, most likely because those villains originate from overseas or they miraculously elude us. By extension, we send heroes to those places that we, quite obviously, closely monitor. And in accordance with the available manpower, dispatch heroes to take care of them. But since heroes and villains are still clashing in those places outside of Spes Nova, public property damage naturally accumulates. In response to this sad fact, we will need to send you, future clean up crew, overseas as well. And THAT means, you all are no different from the Hero trainees; you need as many world languages under your belt as possible. Otherwise, how can Herotopia expect you to work with their Government? Oh but don’t worry. Prior to graduation, we’ll dispatch you and our future heroes in groups to the various countries that established settlements on the outskirts of Spes Nova for preparatory training. We wouldn’t want any of you embarrassing us, heheh.”
Noel: “Ugg. So much talking… and we only got up to Tuesday…”
Mr. Abrams: “Would you rather I stayed silent? Okay then. Have fun in school tomorrow.”
Noel: “?! Ah, no-no-no, it’s fine, really! I’m just a little tired is all. Speak! Tomorrow’s Friday, right? So then at least explain Friday’s schedule!”
“Mr. Abrams: “…After World Languages, which actually takes up 3 classes worth of time, You can rest easy. Although this day actually only has Self Defense 101, Survival Basics and Intro to World Languages, given the latter subject takes up 3 slots on its own, it is better to view it as: Self Defense 101, Survival Basics, World Languages, World Languages, and finally World Languages.
That is Tuesday.”
Noel: “………”
{Hurry up!!!}
---