Garry had insisted I leave for the day, but he still offered me an awkward smile as he sent me off with my food and drink. By the time I arrived at school, the sun had risen much higher, and a lot of the tiredness had left my body. Most of the students had already shown up, this time they didn't carry umbrellas since the forecast didn't call for any rain.
I tossed away my garbage in a nearby bin, looking back at the school for a few more moments. Students with all sorts of quirks—although less than the quantity of U.A—all walked into the building and talked loudly. At least they didn't have to worry about being bullied for their status.
...
The rest of the school day passed by slowly at best. I hadn't received any homework in any of my classes so I had nothing to worry about except getting to U.A in time for the Quirkless Program. Afterwards I had plans to visit Mr. Ryujin's room to talk to him about my journal entries.
I walked out of the school and made it to U.A in ample time, about twenty minutes before scheduled. This time, a lot more students were scattered throughout the front courtyard, either sprawled under the cherry blossoms reading and studying, or talking leisurely—some were also arguing and prompting each other to fight.
I walked down the path lined with the flowered trees and opened the front doors, stepping into U.A for the second time. This time, nobody noticed my outfit. Most of the school must have been informed about the Quirkless Program at this point, so they must have been instructed to deter themselves from any anomalies.
After I made my way down the hallway and hung left, a note was posted on the door in paper: "Program cancelled today, Hero Course training." It was Mr. Aizawa's messy handwriting. Near the bottom of the paper were more words scrawled out.
"Work to complete your assignment in the meantime."
...
"I've already asked a few students, but they never seem to want to answer me." Ayumi groaned, leaning back against the cherry tree, gazing up at the sky with apathy.
"Maybe you're asking the wrong people," I interjected, slowly grabbing Ayumi's notebook to analyze her work. The top line was scribbled out with numerous student answers, but they were all phrases of confusion. Did this girl really write down everything she heard?
"Heh, you're pretty quick." I smiled softly, handing her the paper back. "Well, if only I was quick with this assignment too." She huffed, crossing her arms.
I remembered the green-haired boy I had interacted with yesterday. He seemed pretty kind—maybe I could find him and consult him.
"I know who to find." I stood up, brushing off my uniform, looking down at the black-haired girl.
"I hope you do; the last thing I want is to fail this crap."
Me and Ayumi walked around the left half of the school, catching sight of the large Gamma Gym in a large outcrop of concrete flooring. From what I researched that's where the Hero Course students trained.
The girl beside me sighed, looking in through the large windows, stuffing her pencil into her messy black bun. "They train in there, if we walk in there we could get blown up!"
"Well..." I leaned towards the right, catching a better view of the inside. The gym had dull gray walls but ample natural lighting. Inside were numerous concrete walls standing about twenty meters in height, which I suspected were obstacles.
"I don't see much activity. Plus, I'm sure if there was training in there we'd be stopped where we stand." I looked back and offered the girl a genial smile.
"I suppose." Ayumi sighed, approaching the door and pausing for a few moments. "There's a passcode."
"Damn it..."
...
We had managed to locate a faculty member at U.A, though it was slightly amusing to get instructions from a man whose body was a cement block. The passcode to get into the U.A Gamma Gym was something he would tell us, but he'd enter himself digitally. U.A had a room where one could control all of the building's inner and outer functions.
Me and Ayumi walked back to the Gamma Gym, and shortly after the red light above the passcode tablet turned a light green, accompanied by a robotic female voice indicating that we could enter. Even if we could enter just by pushing open the door, I still helt hesitant.
Behind this door were people with superpowers, using them to train each other and themselves. What if the floor suddenly turned to acid, or the entire gym was blown up? My palms began to sweat as I looked back at Ayumi, who nudged me towards the large, metal door handle.
"Go on ya' dummy." She chuckled.
I let out a low sigh as I pushed open the door, stepping in and slowly surveying the surroundings. The inside of the gym was a little chilly, but not enough to prompt me to put on more layers. Overhead were numerous rows of fluorescent lights, and the floor was made of stone.
"Is anyone here?" Ayumi whispered, clutching her paper to her chest, biting her pencil.
"Maybe we just have to find them."
At that moment I heard a voice call out. "It's you, that nerd from yesterday."
A blonde-haired boy leapt over a concrete wall, fiery bursts of energy emitting from his palms as he quickly descended from the air, as if using them to propel himself. He landed in front of us, his body shining and leaking with sweat.
I took a step back, my body tensing from the sudden proximity with him. The boy's crimson eyes locked onto mine, and they narrowed in an almost predatory manner.
"What are you doing wandering around here? Y'know this is for Hero Course students only." The blonde boy sneered, a tiny huff of smoke leaving his nostrils.
"Well, I'd consider them an exception." Aizawa rounded a corner, crossing his arms as he assessed us both. "To say the least I'm glad you're doing the assignment...I hope."
Ayumi stepped forward, her lips quivering in an attempt to form a smile. Even if yesterday's interaction with the man was relaxed, it seemed like the heroic environment seemed to change Mr. Aizawa.
"Yes, we are. We're just hoping a few of the students here could answer the survey."
The man with long black hair and goggles paused for a beat, before he lowered his head and sighed. "I apologize, but I'm afraid Cementoss wasn't aware of our training session."
"Cementoss?" Ayumi asked.
"He let you inside, didn't he?"
"Oh, that's the rock guy." Ayumi looked back at me, nodding her head in understanding.
"You'll have to leave now, my students are almost done changing." Mr. Aizawa crossed his arms over his chest, looking back at the locker room door that had just opened, a girl with pink hair and yellow horns stepping out, her movements bubbly as she shouted out.
"Why's the shower water so hot?"
...
"I suppose we should look elsewhere." Ayumi stuffed her pencil back into her hair as she made her way out of the Gamma Gym, her gaze assessing me.
"Maybe those Business Class or General Studies students would be easier to consult." I looked towards the left and right sections of the U.A building, noting which class of student resided where.
"How about we split up?" Ayumi stepped next to me, cocking an eyebrow. "It's best if we cover more ground. If we submit papers that look the same Mr. Aizawa might suspect we're cheating or copied each others answers."
"Sounds good." I considered Ayumi's suggestion. As I watched the girl depart I began to deliberate my next moves. I could either visit the Business Class students and ask them, but from what I read they're the students who teach students the basics on managing, interning, and creating Hero Agencies after getting their Hero License. Would they really be the best to ask?
What if they're not invested in the heroics aspect of it all? In addition their schedule does seem packed. If I were to go to General Studies—a course that provides a general education instead of a heroics based one—would the students really be interested in hearing about a quirkless kid asking them questions about what they think being a hero is?
From what it sounded like the General Studies course was just regular school with a heroic flare—just a tiny one.
...
Ayumi made her way down the almost deserted U.A hallway; her pencil intertwined in her black locks tied into a bun over her head. She had wandered the hallways for approximately five minutes and she hadn't seen a single student—at least one that looked approachable.
The girl rounded a corner, but she didn't expect her face to collide with someone's chest. She stumbled back, almost falling backwards. Her gaze fell onto the figure she had bumped into. His eyes were a greyish blue and his hair was a blonde color, combed in a way that screamed high-class.
"I was gonna curse 1-A but you don't seem among their ranks." The boy spoke up, his eyes locked on Ayumi as his lips curled into a small smile.
"What?" The black-haired girl had barely registered what he had said, her ears ringing slightly.
"Whatever." He rolled his eyes as he stuffed his hands into the dark green trousers of his uniform. "Who might you be?"
"Ayumi—Ayumi Tagasuri." She stood up, adjusting her uniform tie. "You've never seen me around because I don't really go here."
"Neito Monoma." The boy replied, cocking an eyebrow as his lips curled up. "You're from that Quirkless Class, aren't you?"
"I am...how'd you know?" Ayumi adjusted her back, as if attempting to appear formal around the refined boy.
"You did state you didn't go here. And I don't see why the Number One hero school in Japan would permit random people to walk around here." Monoma leaned back against the wall, his smirk remaining on his face.
"I...I see your point."
...
I slowly made my way down any hallway I could use. I still stood conflicted on if I should consult the Business Class students or the General Studies classes.
As I continued to walk down the chambers I painfully recalled that had transpired that morning. Ending my pain was at the press of a button, but at the same time I would surely destroy my life without my fathers source of stability.
Shoving those thoughts to the back of my mind, I adjusted my collar upon hearing footsteps somewhere in the hallway. They were slow and sluggish, as if the person was half asleep.
A figure suddenly turned the left corner in front of me. His hair was indigo in color and deep bags laid under his eyes. His shoulders were slouched and his grip on his backpack was with one hand, the other stuffed into his pocket.
His demeanor made him appear unapproachable, but at the same time I felt an inclination to talk to him—he was the only student I've seen so far after being dismissed by Mr. Aizawa from the gym.
My feet seemed to move on their own as I trotted over to the boy slowly. When I came into reasonable distance with him I noticed how tall he actually was.
My head was up to his chest.
"Got something to say?" The boy's deep voice sounded, his gaze fixated on the floor, his voice blunt—almost impolite.
I felt my heart stop in my chest for a few moments, unable to speak.
"Well...you're the first person I've seen so far...and I was wondering if you'd answer a few questions."
"Questions?" The boy cocked an eyebrow, looking towards me.
"Yeah..." I showed the boy the sheet, my hands trembling slightly.
The boy's purple eyes darted to my hands, and his brows creased inwards. "You're shaking." His voice suddenly shifted, as if annoyed with me.
"Sorry...I'm not the best with social situations." I replied, my gaze remaining on the boy's face. His lips parted as if wanting to speak, but in the end no words came out.
"All I see are lines, not any damn questions." He scoffed, rolling his eyes as he began to walk forward.
"That's because I have to ask you, eyebags." I couldn't help but find the boys' apathy towards me somewhat annoying. And the way he was talking to me wasn't that polite either.
"I'm sorry?" He looked back at me, his teeth gritting.