TORI ZOGAIKOTSU
I sat at my desk, everyone also seated, just waiting for the teacher. I wondered who it could be. I had a hunch it'd be Earphone Jack, but she's the student guidance councillor according to Yosuke. I wait patiently, my first class for UA...
..IS ENGLISH! I DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH! I do know Jisakaru can (probably). Her dad's a fancy pants British man, so she'll probably ace this class. I, on the other hand, am a pure Japanese boy. I once did an ancestry test, and got 102% Japanese with a 2% margin of error.
I heard footsteps enter the room. They seem very light, yet hard enough to make a sound of impact, definitely not Froppy. There's a 'Clack' sound so it's probably an actual shoe and not hero clothing. Definitely not heels.
The door swiftly opened, and out stepped a small white furry thing in a suit.
Nezu: Hello students of Class 1-B! Am I a dog? A mouse? A bear? I'm the principal! Principal Nezu that is!
He said as he climbed onto the table. It was so cute seeing him climb up, like a little baby.
Nezu: I'm here to introduce to you our new English teacher! He's a bit late however due to some things going on in his home, so I'll just be here in the mean time.
Class in Unison: YAY!
The class all barraged him with questions. It was kind of funny. I noticed he seemed rather surprised with how many questions we asked, but was willing enough to answer them. Here were the most noteworthy ones:
Note: What's our EN teach like?
Nezu: He's quite the charmer for some people, especially me! Haha! However, I think some might find him a little strange.
Note: Woahhh...what?
Nezu: I don't wish to spoil the surprise!
Principal Nezu said as he put a finger or paw to his mouth, like a shh motion.
Jisakaru: Are there any science projects?
Nezu: Yes! There are in fact! For the Hero Course it's only half in numbers compared to General Education.
Jisakaru: Works for me!
Huh, Jisakaru has always been into science. I always wondered why she likes it so much
Gameron: What's the deal with our Class Teacher?
Nezu: Ah, Mr. Ahseru was personally invited by me. He's had a history of being trained by America's top hero before that spot was taken by Arachna-Man. He also trained with martial arts masters from all around the world. Originally he declined my offer but he soon accepted it for a reason I myself don't quite get.
Yosuke suddenly asked another question.
Yosuke: Hm? But why did you invite him?
Nezu: He's a very skilled combatant and hero but he always gets straight to the point. This teaching environment will also serve as a lesson to him, since he's quite young actually. I hope you all get close to him, as he will remain with you the entire year.
Yosuke: I see.
Ahseru is someone who, so far, I look up to. He reminds me of my brother in a way, always angry but with a golden heart. He willingly helped picked up Kurumi's bag. Speaking of Kurumi-
Nezu: Okay, he's almost here. Any last minute questions?
Kurumi put her hand up. She seemed so excited as her hand was shaking.
Nezu: Yes Ms. Kurumi?
Kurumi: Do dey saell soda 'ere?
Nezu: They do within the cafeteria but it's not recommended to drink every day-
Kurumi: YEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! SOOOODAAAAAAA!
Nezu: ...Ehm. Please do not be so loud, Ms Kurumi!
Kurumi: Oh shoot! I'm sorry! Principal Nezu.
Into the room walked a brown, black cat with brown and orange patches all around, wearing a red bowtie and amber eyes. Oh god. Oh god. I don't like cats. I am more of a dog person. I hoped someone shared my fears as I looked around the class, but everybody seemed stoked, even Jisakaru. ESPECIALLY Jisakaru...Eugh, she had a sinister smile and a menacing aura coming out of her. I felt obligated to walk up to her and say, "It's just a cat bro, calm down." But chose not to.
JISHAKU JISAKARU
IT'S A TORTOISESHELL CAT! AAAAAAAA! There are two things in this world that make me happy, stars, and cats. Wow, Stars and Cats sounds like the coldest album title for Hip Hop, maybe when I get into the music industry. All things considered though, I feared for Zogaikotsu. He hates cats and likes dogs more. His dog, All-Might, scares ME though, that thing is a beast. I distinctly remember feeding it some meat, and it tore it up like it was enjoying torturing a lifeless steak.
TORI ZOGAIKOTSU
I'm so scared of cats, I remember I accidentally stepped on a cats tail and it scratched me so hard that I cried. I don't blame the cat, it was my fault. An eye for an eye I suppose. Still, it hurt really bad and it was after my big brother left for college so it was the first time I had felt helpless. It's a memory that reigns in my head rent free, like a villain hiding in an apartment wall.
I was so scared that I didn't even take into account the fact that the cat was a literal teacher, with one of those...teacher licences and stuff. Is this cat even a hero? Does it even have a driver's licence? The cat charged its tail and rear, shaking it before leaping onto the table.
It then began to, and I totally expected this and didn't freak out, speak.
Jeri: Herro every nyan, my name is Mr. Jeri. I am cat.
Class in Unison (Apart from me): SO CUTE!
Jeri: Yes, I am cyute.
Nezu: Jeri is a good friend of mine who is very fluent in English. His Japanese is a bit broken but his English is near perfect.
I noticed it's mouth didn't even move. I wonder how he's talking?
Jeri: Cowwect. I eating chickewn.
Nezu: Well then, have fun 1-B! I'm off! Goodbye!
He said as he walked away from the room.
Jeri: Nyow then, let's talk about Cadences. Tuwn to paige 47 own ur teksebook.
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That sucked. I don't know who Candice is. I sat at a lunch table with Ms. Zionianti, Yosuke and Jiskaru, who sat right next to me. The cafeteria was amazing! It was like an IKEA Cafeteria actually. It was a huge room with windows showing the bright and vibrant green grass outside. Behind each table was potted plants sectioned into squares. I honestly always thought of UA as the Superhero School so I forgot just how many people are actually here.
The Lunch Man was Lunch Rush The Third. It's a family tradition for them to work for UA, all to deliver food to a bunch of promising children, honestly I wish I was as cool. I got myself a very reliable and trusty bowl of salad. I don't know why, I have this obsession with salad. For the record, I'm a vegetarian and would never eat a living animal.
My friends were talking about something. Jisakaru and Vibra were sweating because of the pushups and stuff they had to do just now and were wearing their gym attire.. I decided to pay attention to their conversation.
Yosuke: -Now if you think about it, biologically engineered humans could potentially save the world in a way if we make them do all the work.
Jisakaru: Yaoyorozu Kun, isn't that technically slavery?
Vibra: Hm, Is it really slavery if they were created to do labor?
Jisakaru: Girl, you could say that about slaves born to be slaves.
Vibra: Ok, rewording my point, Is it really slavery if they were programmed to do this?
Jisakaru: Well- that's another can of worms because that'd be morally wrong.
Yosuke: Fair point.
What the heck are they on about? Is it about Blade Runner or something?
Zogaikotsu: H-Hey, in my humble opinion-
They all turned to me.
Zogaikotsu: ...It's getting all....curaaazyyy...right?
Jisakaru: ..Pfft- Yeah. We're talking about taken in technology from an arrested villain, some sorta scientist and stuff, has prompted signs of biological engineering even scarier than the Nomu's, or artificial humans more or less.
Biological huh?
Zogaikotsu: Like...Star Wars?
Yosuke put his finger to his chin and looked at me, he seemed to be genuinely thinking about what I said.
Yosuke: Yes, like Star Wars.
Vibra: ...What's Star Wars?
Jisakaru: What?!
Zogaikotsu: Huh?!
Yosuke: Seriously? Zionianti-
Vibra: Vibra.
She corrected Yosuke.
Yosuke: -Vibra Chan? You never heard of Star Wars? Even I know what Star Wars is and I haven't watched a single film.
Zogaikotsu: Wait, how did you know there were clones in Star Wars then?
Yosuke: The second movie has Clones in the heading, but back on track, seriously Vibra Chan?
Vibra: Is it like...some sort of...astronaut war?
Jisakaru: God, I wish but no, it's like- It's about like...It's about these guys called the Jedi and they're like space wizards and stuff. They live on other planets and stuff.
Vibra: But...no other planet apart from Earth is survivable in this solar system.
Yosuke: That's because it takes place in a- Wait, Zogaikotsu Kun, does it take place in another universe?
Zogaikotsu: Uh, no, it's like another galaxy a long time ago, far far away. That's at the start of every film.
Jisakaru: Yeah, and like...there's like these evil guys called the Sith and they are evil versions of the Jedi.
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Vibra: Wait, how are they wizards?
Zogaikotsu: They have like this- magic quirk called The Force which does a lot of things. It can do telekinetic things like Jisakaru's Magneticism but with all objects and instead of just pulling, they can also push and levitate and- and read minds and control people.
Vibra was paying close attention, raising her puffy rainbow eyebrow, pursing her lips.
Yosuke: They can read minds? I didn't know that..
Jisakaru: Yeah, and also there's something you missed Zogaikotsu, uh...there's this guys that are neither Jedi or Sith. They're like-
Honestly at this point I zoned out of the conversation, Star Wars lore confuses me all the time, even as a fan. I blame Gisnep Studios.
I noticed three people walking toward us. A weird dark blue haired boy with white parts of his hair making a bullseye pattern, a pretty looking girl with pink hair and a large patterned peacock tail on her back and another boy I couldn't see much from on the back.
They stood in front of us and spoke, the blue haired boy looked really totally and unapologetically handsome, like genuinely handsome. He was borderline androgynous and pretty like a girl, with a thin and tall body structure.
Blue Haired Boy: Hello there! You guys are from Class 1-B right?
He bowed formally.
Yosuke took the lead in this conversation.
Yosuke: Why yes, and you are?
Akiya: We're from Class 1-A, my name is Akiya Misao and this is my buddy, Fujo Joryoku and this is Ninana Nanani. May we sit with you?
Ninana: Hey~
Vibra: Oh yes! Please do so.
The other boy, Joryoku, looked rather thin in comparison to the very well built Misao and the reasonably skinny Nanani. He had slightly dark brown hair that was well cut, light blue eyes and a upset look. I proceeded to look at Jisakaru after I saw Joryoku. She had light brown hair that was cut like a tiger mauled her head, light pink eyes and a constantly angry looking face. Fate works in mysterious ways.
I guess she noticed I stared at her and she flicked my forehead with her finger.
Jisakaru: Look somewhere else goofball.
Vibra: Who's the teacher for Class 1-A.
Akiya: Oh, that'd be Real Steel.
My attention has been caught. I stood up and slammed my hands on the table, alerting a lot of people surrounding to look at me.
Zogaikotsu: REAL STEEL!?!
Jisakaru elbowed me on the stomach. Woop. I shouted too loud. I sat back down with my head down in shame. Misao looked shocked before shifting into a happy facial expression as he snickered.
Akiya: Your enthusiasm is really appreciated. Yes, it's Real Steel. He's a bit...
Yosuke: Ecentric? I've heard from a source.
Akiya: Right! Very right!
I couldn't help but feel as though the people sitting in front of me were on a completely different level of intelligence compared to me and the people sandwiching me in. Joryoku, the totally not Jisakaru's clone or brother or cousin, was just looking to the side. I couldn't help but notice he looked embarrassed. He's probably socially anxious, it's quite common in our generation unfortunately. I tried to form a conversation with him.
Zogaikotsu: So, Joryoku Chan, how's school for you in the great 1-A?
Joryoku: ....A.
Zogaikotsu: Understandable, have a nice day.
Clearly talking to him wasn't working, I looked to Jisakaru's side, the Nanani girl was talking to her, their peacock tail's feather's flicking a bit as she leaned on the chair with her arm.
Ninana: Soooo, you come out here often?
Jisakaru: ...This is the first day of school and this is my first lunch, so...no?
Ninana: ...A-Ah, I see. If you want, I'd like to get lunch for you.
Jisakaru: It's...free.
Huh? A girl flirting with another girl? That is weird. I'm not a humaphone, I like gay people. Wait- No- Uh. Either way I never have seen such a thing in person. Even as Nanani kept talking, Jisakaru was clearly not paying attention, looking off into the distance.
I wondered what Jisakaru was thinking, as while the three in front were discussing about taxes or something, she looked to the side with her fist on her chin and her elbow on the table, in the Thinker position. She must be thinking about a lot of things.
JISHAKU JISAKARU
When you think about it, coffee really is just bean soup.
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I walked down the halls with Zogaikotsu during our free period. The halls were bustling with activity, but it wasn't like your typical high school where students are chilling out and having fun. No, this was different. Imagine the biggest nerds and muscleheads you know, now combine them and times them by 30. THAT was the UA Halls. There were gigantic bulky people wearing glasses and discussing scientific terms like a bunch of sophisticated gentlemen.
Zogaikotsu: Man, this place is so cool.
I overheard some people talking about Astronomy and THE Carl Sagan. I did my best to contain my fangirliness. There was an actual reason me and Zogaikotsu were venturing the hallways, to meet the Support Classes. Truthfuly, we were going to visit The Development Studio mainly because we heard a rumour in the cafeteria about one special student in there that intrigued us.
The rumour went like this, Yaoyorozu told this story for the record, that a student in Class 1-F was actually the true identity of the Mystery Supporter.
The Mystery Supporter was, you guessed it, a mysterious person 3 years ago that made headlines when they constructed revolutionary support items anonymously to heroes. Apparently, they were put into large boxes with no label or anything and sent to the heroes' houses. It wasn't mailed or anything like that, no, it just appeared on their doorsteps suddenly. Yaoyorozu began to explain that Dynamight himself managed to get a box, which was a watch or bracelet kind of thing. Get this, after days of investigation and analysis from his hero agency, it was discovered that the thing would make his explosions much more hotter and bigger.
Most of the heroes who got them either discarded them as they were anonymous and illegal, or used them to the dismay of the HPSC. This literally started an international debate regarding the usage of the Supporter's items. After a year straight of sudden support items, the Supporter stopped sending them, putting a dead end to the quest for their identity. Some, like Zogaikotsu, thought they were a secret underground gang that just wanted to help the heroes out, but according to Yaoyorozu, the Supporter stopped sending them because they'd actually been caught.
Yaoyorozu went on to explain that he once eavesdropped on a conversation between his mother and some other hero, both of which got boxes but never used them. The conversation was all boring adult talk but then he heard his mother mention that the HSPC caught the person behind it and it was...a kid. A 13 year old managed to find the locations of the heroes' houses, manufacture innovative technology and deliver it to their doorstep using drone technology. What happened to them? They were let off the hook for their age and also because they didn't do anything really terrible, and they were supposedly given an offer and scholarships to join UA High.
Jisakaru: If what Yaoyorozu was saying is true, that means my helmet could become really cool..
Zogaikotsu: Huh? Why would you of all people need a helmet?
Jisakaru: Huh? No- I just think helmets are cool.
He raised his stark white eyebrow and stared at me in confusion, a smile still plastered on his face.
Zogaikotsu: I suppose helmets ARE cool, Jisakaru Chan, anyways we're near the place.
He said as we both stopped in front of the Development Studio, our hearts synchronising as they were both pounding. Okay maybe that was the worst phrase to say to describe hearts beating. The door was larger than our class door and had polkadots in a pattern that reminded me of Berserk on it's iron structure.
Zogaikotsu: Well, let's go in!
He exclaims happily before I put my hand in front of his chest. I could see from below the door that the room was slowly lighting up with a yellow hue. I swiftly pulled Zogaikotsu away by his lapels and beside the door. I then pressed my back against the wall to my left, as the door was blown away in an explosion, a pink haired teacher flying out.
Zogaikotsu: HOLY-?!
Jisakaru: WHADAFA-?!
Zogaikotsu had his jaw wide open as he looked in horror from the aftermath of the combustion. The teacher of the classroom was on the ground, other passerby students looking on her in shock and whatever emotion can be used in this situation, because let's be honest, how else would anyone react to this that ISN'T terror?
She scratched her pink lumpy hair as she got up.
?: Woo! Sorry about that!
She shouted to everyone nearby as she reentered the studio casually. For some reason, everyone else immediately moved on with their life after that, yet clearly shaken, but not as much as Zogaikotsu, with his wide eyed expression telling me more about his anxiety to enter now than any essay ever could. Regardless, we entered, as I pulled him by the forearm as he was too shaken to enter on his own.
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The studio was filled to the brim with Support students making all kinds of gadgets and gizmos. The pink haired teacher was there, talking to her students casually as if she hadn't been blown out the door.
?: Okay kids! If we can compress that cookie into a smaller sight butt with the same amount of conk, I'm sure we could replicate Dynamight's quirk.
At least I think that's what she said, but I couldn't hear much over the drilling and hammering, so what I thought she said came out as utter nonsense. After a while of looking around, the teacher finished telling her class something Zogaikotsu and I both could not understand and noticed us, walking over with a smile that rivalled my dandruff haired friend.
?: Welcome heroes! I'm Mrs. Hatsune Miku!
She said happily, but I am definitely sure I misheard her over the commotion all around, as I did a double take when she mentioned her name.
Jisakaru: What?!
I asked in complete confusion. She furrowed her eyebrows yet still retained her smile as she leaned in closer to us.
?: I'm MRS. HAT-SU-ME MEI! What brings you two here.
Zogaikotsu opened his mouth to say something but stopped himself. I noticed he was still looking terrified, as though he feared getting blown out the door. To compensate, I spoke for him.
Jisakaru: We're just here to see our uhm-...future collaborators!
Mei: Well, you came to the right place.
Jisakaru: This is literally the only place we could have gone to.
Mei: Good point! Let me show you 'round!
She beckoned us with her hand to follow her, and so we did. She went over the entire department and what each student was doing. Yes, EACH student. We learnt so much information in just 1 break period that I felt as though I couldn't pay attention for the next class since my brain was just overloaded.
Mei: And that's Fletcher! He's American!
Fletcher: Ohio! Gohzaiemassoh.
I glared at Fletcher with pure vitriolic hatred upon hearing the worst Japanese in my life before turning back to Mrs. Mei.
Jisakaru: Well thank you for this whole tour...but we're looking for-
I leaned in closer to whisper to the teacher, only to be interrupted by Zogaikotsu, who I believe just remembered why he was here.
Zogaikotsu: Oh right! We're here about the Mysterious Supporter!
Every single noise came to a halt. All the drills, the hammering, the electrical working, just stopped, with the exception of some music playing from someone's earphones. I looked around to see that pretty much every Support Student was staring at us, but not in anger or anything, but moreso confusion and wonder. Zogaikotsu didn't notice and just looked at the teacher with his scared but still relatively happy face.
Mei: ...Hm...
She rubbed her chin with her finger and looked upward with a thinking face. Before pointing at the both of us.
Mei: I don't know what you're talking about!
Jisakaru: eh-
Mei: The Mysterious Supporter doesn't exist. It was just a myth, now you two either go talk to the other students or you can go back to class.
Zogaikotsu: Awww, what?
He had a disappointed look on his face.
I was totally inclined to just leave right then and there until I realised the teacher was winking at us and, when telling us to do something or scram, pointed her thumb behind her back, at someone specific. I looked over her shoulder and saw the only student who wasn't distracted by Zogaikotsu's shout sitting a decent distance away from us.
Her back was turned, but I could see her lengthy light blue hair that was tied into torso length pigtails by metallic scrunchies with an Electric pattern running on them. She wore a puffy dark blue sweater with white stripes coming down from the shoulders and a long collar covering her neck and presumably her mouth and bike shorts which I was sure wasn't school uniform policy.
My suspicions were confirmed when I saw that EVERY support student was looking at her, but she was hard at work with a weird machine thing. I found it quite jarring how this implied that pretty much every support student from Class F, G and H knew about the identity of the infamous Mysterious Supporter, which begged the question on how they kept their identity secret for so long.
Zogaikotsu: Well, that stinks, come on Jisakaru, let's see what that Fletcher dude is up to-
I grabbed his shoulder tightly, mostly out of anger from the fact that he wanted to see what THAT guy was up to.
Jisakaru: How about...we don't?
Fletcher: Aw..
He sighed.
Jisakaru: Actually- let's see what the busy one over there is up to.
Zogaikotsu: Ohh...why?
Jisakaru: Trust me.
We both walk behind her. She seemed to be working on a weird machine thing. I look over her shoulder and see that, unlike the other students using tools or hammers to work on their machines, this girl was using her hand. Her hand had electric aura trinkling down to her palm. She was wearing headphones, which was blasting a strange electronic song. I noticed that the other support students were back to work and the teacher was back to blowing herself up.
Jisakaru: Uhm-...excuse me-
I say before my heart skips a beat and all sounds drown out entirely, replaced by a ringing noise, when I realise what she was working on. Zogaikotsu said something but I didn't hear, at least I didn't hear until the Supporter turned around swiftly and slapped me in the neck with a tape measurer that circled around it.
Jisakaru: GAH!
Zogaikotsu: What the heck?!
I finally got a good look at her face, but not in the way I expected. I gagged and choked as she tilted her head. She had very stark blue eyes and as I predicted, her jacket's collar reached up to her upper lip, covering her mouth. Her pupils were unique in that they were in a square shape, which made her look as though she was staring into my soul. She pressed the end of the tape measurer against the entrance of the tape.
Ms. Supp: 13.4 inches...I need to reevaluate my blueprints.
Her voice was soft, barely over a whisper, yet she spoke like a machine gun, firing off words at a rapid rate.
Jisakaru: E-Eh?
She pulled the measurer back aggressively, and luckily, I did not get slapped by a violent snake we call the tape measurer.
Zogaikotsu: W-What just happened?
If he didn't look scared to death before, he certainly looked scared in the afterlife now.
Ms. Supp: I measured her neck, her helmet is quite nuanced in it's design, even if it's frankly, unnecessary.
She answered Zogaikotsu while criticising my design.
Jisakaru: ..right.
If you didn't know, you can send in suit ideas and plans to a professional suit outfit dresser. Thing is though, I sent my plans to a recommended suit designer, so it begged the question, why did SHE have it? As if she read my mind (bozo thinks she Shiko), she responded.
Ms. Supp: You see, you two's suits have been outsourced to me by the companies you requested build them. And by outsourced, I mean-
She cut herself off, but I got the feeling what she was about to say was illegal. I widened my eyes at the realisation that she said 'you two' as in me and Zogaikotsu. I didn't see another suit nearby, particularly a colourful one because I'd imagined that's one he'd wear.
Ms. Supp: Regardless, I would like to show you a few things, Jishaku Jisakaru, Tori Zogaikotsu.
When she said our full names, I felt a chill run down my spine, not because I was terrified by her, but because my first name was the most horrendous thing in the history of names. I think my parents were high when they named me because let me put this into perspective. Jishaku in Japanese, when translated to english means Magnet. Straight up, magnet. There's no pun, no joke, no nothing. It's not even cute like 'Tori' which means bird. It's TERRIBLE and I have only asked Zogaikotsu to call me by my last name for that reason.
Zogaikotsu: Uh, wait...who are you exactly?
He asked, shaken down to the electrons and nucleus. She eyed the both of us with her terrifyingly pretty eyes before taking a deep breath and speaking.
Ms. Supp: ...My name is Rukina Yoshiyuki, but you can call me Rukina, since we're going to be friends.
She beckoned for us to come closer to her corner of the Studio, as she explained what our suits were going to be like.
CHAPTER END