"Where are we going?" Matter asks.

"We are going to Boston," Streetwise smiles, "for a field trip!"

After a few more weeks of diligent study, the first-year Paladins have earned themselves a small reward. Or, at the very least, a calm before the storm. In two months' time, they will have their license exam. Which if they pass, allows them to patrol the streets with adult supervision. And in one month's time, they will have their annual tournament where they test their abilities against each other and witness how far each of them has come. With many stressful activities on the horizon, the faculty has agreed to let the students have some extracurricular activities, particularly outside the Academy. Currently, Streetwise has gathered the entirety of Section 1-2 'Sword' to discuss their outing.

"Why Boston?" White Mask ponders.

"Avalon Incorporated has invited us to witness the unveiling of their new Z-Reactor Mark 10. Over seventy percent more efficient than the mark 9."

"Were you paid to say that?" TeXXno-KnXXht Julia laughs.

"No comment," Streetwise turns away, "we leave in two days via bus. So, partner up or something. It's going to be a long ride."

Streetwise pulls Gateway aside as the two discuss the class' accommodation. The Paladins discuss possible partnerships between them all. Given that the trip will be a while, a partner to sit beside and talk to might help ease the boredom. It can even help deepen their bond as friends or even something stronger. Dreadnought looks to the crowd to try and find a certain someone to partner up with.

Ever since Dreadnought wrote that letter to Matter, she has been acting less distant towards him. They even have casual talks now. However, it's nothing like how they bonded before. Streetwise's absence isn't helping with that either. With his return to Paladin's Academy, Ms. Winter has been sending him on missions non-stop. To the eyes of an outsider, it's almost as if Ms. Winter was trying to get rid of him. Given this opportunity, Dreadnought believes that this field trip could possibly help amend their distant relationships. Maybe this is the thing that will bring things back to how they were...

"Something on your mind?" Snooze gently asks.

"Just thinking about who I should partner with," Dreadnought responds.

"Isn't that obvious?" Snooze slowly leans closer.

"Right. Of course," Dreadnought smiles. His thoughts linger elsewhere.

For the past few weeks, Dreadnought and Snooze have gone on a couple more dates. However, Dreadnought doesn't remember them well. It's all started to blend together, like a video compilation. He tries not to dwell on it too hard as he looks at other people in the room.

White Mask seems to be looking around the room as well. He walks in circles, mumbling something about 'optimizations.'

Double Trouble twiddles his thumbs and looks down at his desk. Dreadnought has never seen him this nervous. Perhaps he already has someone he'd like to ask? Yet cannot for some reason.

On the other hand, Sure-Shot beams confidence. It bordering on arrogance. He talks to a few people, asking if they want to partner up. Dreadnought can't really gauge their reactions, but when Sure-Shot starts talking to Matter, he looks away.

Streetwise returns with Gateway as he makes the class settle down. After a few minutes of teaching, he eventually dismissed the class. While the class heads back to their dorm to finalize their partners, Streetwise heads for the war room, for Ms. Winter has something all the pro heroes need to know. He is the last to arrive at the meeting, and Ms. Winter glared at him for all but a moment.

"Now that everyone is here," Ms. Winter says, "we can discuss this trip Avalon offered."

"It is an obvious ploy for guaranteed protection," Calcite remarks, "the fact they have invited every professional and non-professional superhero to attend their exhibition could only mean an imminent attack. Be it super villain or business rival."

"I agree with the blockhead," Streetwise laughs, "our working relationship with Avalon is sucky. So sucky, in fact. They made their own hero school just to spite us. Something's up, and they know it."

"As long as the food's good, I don't mind," Sparkplug chuckles.

"It's weird that they invited everyone except their own employees," Aegis comments.

"Maybe they view security work as beneath them," Glance scoffs.

"Whatever the case may be," Ms. Winter acknowledges, "we must take their invitation in good faith. However, since the third years are busy with their capstone projects, and the second years are gearing up for the OJTs. Only the first years are allowed to go."

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Shame," Streetwise sighs, "I wanted to see Feedback's reaction."

The group of heroes nods in unison.

"Three teachers will be assigned to each class during the trip. Streetwise shall be in charge of Section Sword, while Sparkplug will cover Section Shield."

"Seriously?" Streetwise raises his hands, "You're splitting us up?"

"I cannot, in good faith, assign the two of you together," Ms. Winter quietly laughs, "it would be like putting all your best eggs into one basket."

"She's got a point, best buddy," Sparkplug pats him on the back, "it be overkill if we were on the same team."

"Man," Streetwise slumps, "I hate it when you guys agree on things."

Back at the dorm, some students have gathered around to talk about their upcoming trip. While a few seem disinterested, one man is contemplating who to partner up with. In the dining area, White Mask sits with Sure-Shot as the pair scout around for potential buddies. It is clear to the both of them that whoever they choose for this trip will no doubt be important later on.

"Have you decided on who you want to ask out?" Sure-Shot asks.

"Well," White Mask fixes his posture, "I've narrowed it down to two people."

White Mask gestures his eyes toward a girl on the couch. Her orange hair burned a fiery red shade.

"Ah, Meraxes huh? Excellent choice."

White Mask then subtly points at another girl by the dorm's recreational area. She has short black hair and sports a causal purple sweater. Currently, she's playing on the dorm standard ZS-5.

"Is that Glimpse?" Sure-Shot says while standing up.

"Not so loud numbnuts!" White Mask forcefully sits him down.

"May I ask why them, Sir?"

"Well, that Meraxes chick just strikes me the right way," White Mask chuckles, "but that Glimpse girl. She has something special. I can feel it."

"In any case, if you will pick the former, I will pick the latter."

"Nah," White Mask laughs, "you gotta find your own. Got it?"

"Aye."

Meanwhile, on the couch, Double Trouble laments his lack of companionship. His black and orange jumpsuit rubbed against the sofa. Across from him, Magnetic Monopole sat with Wildlife, casually discussing who they should go with.

"Man," Double Trouble sighs, "I've asked like three girls, and all of them said no!"

"How about a guy then?" Wildlife laughs.

"Yeah," Magnetic Monopole says, "don't think about it romantically. Think of it like bro time."

"Who did you ask?" Wildlife questions.

"I'd rather not say."

Outside the dorm, Dreadnought sits alone. He leans by the same tree he sat with Matter weeks ago. It feels almost like yesterday. He looks up and notices the citrus-colored leaves slowly falling.

"I didn't think I'd find you here!"

Streetwise struts up, sporting a brand new full-body spandex suit. No longer is it black with yellow accents. Now, it is a gentleman's grey with simply white highlights. The logo on his chest seems to have been modified as well. Much more angular than before. The lenses on his face are the same shade of grey and white.

"New suit?"

"It's time for a Chris Lowenthal original, ya know? One of one."

"I like it, although the colors seem derivative."

Dreadnought gestures to his navy blue outfit. It also features white highlights. However, in his case, he also has black and yellow accents.

Streetwise laughs as he sits down next to Dreadnought. The two watch the orange clouds gliding in the sky. The autumn breeze gently caresses their face.

"So," Streetwise sits up straight, "a little birdy told me you're still having girl troubles."

"Who told you that?"

"Can't rat out my info guy!" Streetwise laughs.

"Well, their report is legitimate," Dreadnought sighed, "I wrote Matter a letter explaining how I really felt about her. I think it worked? Because we are talking again. But things are still not the same as they were before."

"Things change, Quinn. Better get used to it."

"I understand that. I just don't get why our friendship changed the way it did."

"Maybe you did something to hurt her?"

"No. I would never do anything to harm her."

"Maybe unintentionally then?"

Dreadnought thinks back to a few weeks ago. He tells Streetwise about his training here with Matter. How for those few days, they pretty much helped each other improve. When his brother came to say goodbye, it pushed Dreadnought into fully mastering his unique ability.

Then, the next day, he watched a movie with his friends. Snooze just happened to be there, and he found her cute so...

"YOU ASKED HER OUT?!?!" Streetwise said calmly.

"Yes. Is that so bad?"

"After training with Matter for the past few days. Pushing each other to be stronger. Culminating in the two of you sleeping together under this tree. You just ask Snooze out on a date?"

"That is the gist of things."

"Man," Streetwise calms down, "I hate to break it to you. But Matter is clearly pissed you asked Snooze out."

"But, we were just friends?"

"I think she thought otherwise."

"Really?"

"YES!!!"

"Huh. I see. This perplexes me."

"Sometimes I forget that you were raised differently."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Nah, just means you need to learn how to read in between the lines. People won't always say what they mean, you know?"

"Well, that complicates things."

Streetwise's phone buzzes as he puts it on loudspeaker.

"Where the fuck are you? I was trying to reach you hours ago!"

"Is that Ms. Winter?" Dreadnought asks.

"Hold on," Streetwise laughs, "lemme put you on hold."

"YOU MOTHERFU-"

"Yeah, it was. I think we were supposed to investigate something together. Must have slipped my mind. Well, I better get going."

Streetwise stands up and stretches his legs. He jumps up and down, trying to hype himself up. He looks back to Dreadnought, telling him to stand back.

"Oh, and before I go," Streetwise smiles to him, "word of advice, don't juggle two girls at once. Believe me."

In one big motion, Streetwise lunges high into the air and, using that momentum and his ropes, swings away into the horizon.

"I understand," Dreadnought looks at his hands, "juggling two girls could potentially injure both of them. It would be best not to juggle girls at all."

Dreadnought returns to his dorm with a new understanding of his complicated feelings. If what Streetwise says is accurate, and Matter indeed actually feels that way, he must clear things up with her, once and for all—hopefully fixing their fragmented relationship as well.