Chapter XXVIII Gear Up for Final Exams Part 1
"Have you told Crystal about it?" Clara asked Aileen curiously and puts the cup of tea for her. "Apart from Takamasa lives here longer. Don't you think Crystal should know about it too?"
Aileen hums and silently thanking her sister for the drink. Crystal's mother is a former fists guardian and she must've taught her two daughters about their responsibilities. Clara made a point to ask Crystal as well. "Crissie's mom is the former Arceus's guardian. I'm sure she would teach them a few things. It won't hurt to ask too."
Clara ruffles her hair softly. "Don't worry too much. It will work out in the end."
Aileen simply smiles before glancing down her paperwork. "Our whole life changed ever since Arceus give us this task."
It feels like yesterday Arceus seeks their help and was transported from another world. A world without Pokemon existence but only Quirks.
"Yeah... some people are beginning to get attached to them." Clara kisses her head. "Don't stay up late, sis."
"I won't." She reassured Clara before finishing her remaining reports.
"I sensed you met my fellow guardians. How did you feel about them?" Arceus asked the final 18th guardian in front of him.
"They're promising ones." 18th smiles softly as the voice is a soft feminine tone. She's watching them afar to see how they fare and dealing with them. "Mind, splash, fists and meadow guardians experience it before?"
"Indeed they have, 18th." The alpha Pokemon answered. "I saw their past experience and the others informed me. They wouldn't hesitate to get involved and save them."
"You grow fond of them." The alpha Pokemon hums. "However, that mind guardian... I can sense her uniqueness. Do you think..." She trailed off her thoughts and never encounter anyone like her.
"She'll overcome it." Arceus assured her. "She's the first guardian who inherits both abilities."
"Her powers could end her."
"She'll overcome the obstacles she ever faces, 18th."
"Okay, that's it for class." Aizawa ended his lessons and compiled all their work. "There's only one week left until the final exams." Ophelia secretly smiles in amusement but Meowstic can see through her actions and simply rolls his eyes. "You all are studying properly, right?" He asks them curiously. "I'm sure you already know, but it won't just be a written exam. There's also a practical component. Make sure you train your minds and bodies at the same time. That's all." He leaves the classroom and half of his class are screaming in panic.
"I haven't studied at all!" Kaminari [Rank: 22nd] and Ashido [Rank: 21st] yelled in shock whereas Aileen simply sighs in heavily.
"With the sports festival and internship, I didn't study at all!" Kaminari screamed and holding his head in fear for the upcoming exam.
"It's true that we had one event after another, but..." Tokoyami [Rank: 16th] muttered under his breath and sweat dropping.
"For the midterms, we'd just started school, so they didn't cover much, so I didn't really have a hard time with them, but with the back-to-back events and stuff, the finals will be different..." Sato [Rank: 19th] commented and began to get worried about the incoming exams.
Gallade wasn't expecting some of them are panicking for the incoming exams. "Is-is it really normal for you guys to panic such a small thing?" Gallade [Rank: 8th] muttered under his breath. He doesn't even care about the ranking as long as he maintains the passing grade or even higher.
"I forgot that you're a Pokemon, Gallade-kun." Midoriya [Rank: 5th] commented and laughs sheepishly. "It's important for us to pass the exam because it's part of our life to see how much we learn so far. Do you guys have exams? Gallade-kun and Meowstic-kun?" He asks them curiously.
Both Pokemon shook their head. "We normally don't have written exams not unless you're Audino, Chansey and any other Pokemon who would want to work in the hospital." Gallade explained.
"Gallade, you've done well for being a first-timer." Midoriya complimented the blade Pokemon and he chuckled.
"I would like to thank Aileen for helping me to catch up on these kinds of studies." He waves off his notes. It's them who help him to blend in with the humans and have a great experience to be part of their human lifestyles. "Ashido and Kaminari, let's do our best."
Midoriya nodded his head in agreement. "Gallade-kun is right! We all want to go to the training camp together, right?"
"Yes!" Iida [Rank: 3rd] raises his hand in agreement. "As a class rep, I also have high hopes that you'll all be moved to action!"
"It's pretty hard to fail if you just pay attention in class." Todoroki [Rank: 6th] commented bluntly.
"Haha! I never paid attention because, in the end, it works well!" Ophelia [Rank: 1st] exclaimed happily and Iida gives her a stern look.
"That's because you sleep all the time and I don't know how you manage to get ranked 1st, Ophelia-kun!" He waves his arm in usual robot moves. Iida isn't pleased to catch her sleeping during the class and wondering how she manage to get her grades high.
Ophelia pouts and looks away. "Tehee~ I read all the books before we start our class year!" She gives them a peace sign and Meowstic sighs heavily.
"I know it's hard to imagine of her being 1st place but her IQ is high behind that happy-go-lucky attitude." Meowstic commented and they gape in shock. "She's a genius girl. Don't bother to ask her to be your tutor because Ophelia is going to assist your new Professor for next term. History of Pokemon." He wasn't surprised by her lack of attention unless it was an interesting one and she never use her powers to predict the answers or read their minds.
Ophelia stuck her tongue out and wink. "You're on your own guys." She loves to tease them and plans to prank Mineta and Kaminari for her next two victims.
"You two, I may be able to be of assistance with the class lectures." Yaoyorozu [Rank: 2nd] volunteered to be their tutor to help them study for the exam.
"Yao-momo!" Ashido and Kaminari screamed in happiness. They finally found someone to help them pass the exams.
"I can't help at all with the practical, though..." She commented with a grim look as Aileen stares at the black-haired girl.
"I'll help with the practical." Aileen [No rank] volunteered to help them especially she wanted Yaoyorozu to improve her skills.
"Eh? You will, Aileen-san?" Yaoyorozu gapes in shock and realizes something. "How come you're not taking the exam? Or ranking?"
Aileen smiles softly. "They know I have my license as proof that I'm Pokemon Doctor and they saw my achievements including my grades. They put me here so I can socialize with students around my age instead of taking this exam. I'll be taking a medical exam under Recovery Girl." It's a good experience to work alongside a healer hero in the future so they can exchange some notes to look after both humans and Pokemon.
"I heard Ruby-sensei that you need experience of looking after other patients apart from Pokemon." Gallade pointed out and crossed his arms. "It makes sense why they couldn't bother to give you a rank."
"You're still joining our lesson and you have the same homework with us." Uraraka [Rank: 15th] pointed out.
"It's true but the one they gave me is more advance than you guys." They flinch in shock by the sudden news of Aileen's work.
"Yo-yo-yo-you're a genius girl." Some of them thought about her whereas Aileen simply smiles sheepishly.
"I'm not one of those two, but can I join, too?" Jiro [Rank: 9th] asked and wanted to join in for the study group. "I'm having some trouble with quadratic functions..." She showed them her notes. Maths isn't her strong forte but decent enough to pass the subject.
Sero goes in front of Yaoyorozu and clasps his hands. "Sorry, me too! How are you with classical Japanese?" He [Rank 19th] asks curiously.
"I'd like to join to." Ojiro [Rank: 10th] raises his hand weakly and needed help with his study. "There's a bunch of stuff I don't get."
"Everyone..." Yaoyorozu gape in shock. "Yes, of course!" She answered happily and stands up as the three of them are relieved. "Then, let us hold a study session at my residence this weekend!"
"Seriously!?" Ashido jumps in. "I can't wait to see your house!" She's looking forward to seeing her house.
"Oh, in that case, I must tell mother and have her open up the hall!" Yaoyorozu muttered happily. "What kind of tea are you all partial to?"
"Is-is it just me or is Yaoyorozu-san is sparkling?" Aileen muttered nervously to her partner and he simply shrugged his shoulder. "For the tea, we can have green tea, jasmine tea and earl grey tea." She suggested before they could answer and Yaoyorozu nodded her head in agreement. "In return, don't provide us anything for a snack. I'll make something because we already impose enough for staying over."
She shook her head. "Not at all, Aileen-san! In fact, thank you for helping me!" Yaoyorozu holds her hand.
Aileen smiles softly. "It's a pleasure to help my fellow classmates. I'll help you guys with the practical. This also means-" She glances at Gallade.
The blade Pokemon smirk. "You can see her whole team including myself. Primarina won't join us because she wanted to stay at Haven Sanctuary." He commented and couldn't wait to train with his fellow teammates. They manage to see their whole team but didn't have time to introduce themselves properly.
"They're in the hands of the demon Lee-lee." Ophelia muttered under her breath and silently prayed for them. "May you guys survive for her hell training." Meowstic sighs heavily.
"You're being dramatic, Ophelia." He shook his head and stares at Todoroki as he stares at Ophelia curiously. "She's scared of Aileen whenever they train together." Meowstic wouldn't blame Aileen for being brutal due to Ophelia's non-stop prank.
"How come she's different from the others to me!?" She exclaimed and huffed in annoyance. "Lee-lee is a demon." Ophelia always ended up sore body whenever they train without using their powers.
"You always prank her during the training non-stop and nearly throw you out of the ocean." Meowstic retorted back calmly. "You can't blame Aileen for beating you up brutally." He already gives Aileen permission a long time ago since the day Ophelia targets her for the prank. Permission to beat his adopted sister for her stupidity.
Todoroki shook his head in amusement. "Ophelia, if you're not busy... can you help me?"
Ophelia tilted her head curiously. "Study or practical?"
"Both." Todoroki answered. "I know that you have experience with Pokemon given you're starting to travel at the age of 10? With them." He needs help to train his Pokemon to get stronger just like them. If there's anyone who has more experience with Pokemon it's them.
"Sure!" Ophelia answered happily. "It won't be long to help the Professors with the plan and I'll help you out." She didn't mind helping Todoroki out.
"Thank you, Ophelia."
"No problem~"
|| Lunch Rush's Eatery ||
"The practical exam, huh?" Midoriya muttered under his breath while staring at his food. "It's kind of scary since I can't tell what'll be on it." He glances at Ophelia. "Umm... Oph-"
"Not a chance." Ophelia answered happily without finishing his questions. She's not the low enough to read their minds or predict it. She munches her strawberries. "Don't you think it's exciting for the incoming exam to come?" Her eyes twinkle in amusement while the others stared at her with deadpanned expressions.
Leave it to Ophelia who thinks everything is exciting and Aileen sighs heavily. The blue-haired girl doesn't bother to ask what's inside of Ophelia's head.
"You always find things amusing, Ophelia." Meowstic commented bluntly and shook his head.
"I don't think it'll be anything crazy." Iida gives Ophelia a pointed look and she simply stuck her tongue out.
"The written exam questions will come from what we study in class, so I should be able to manage somehow, but..."
"You can manage, huh...?" Uraraka [Rank: 15th] muttered nervously and lacked the confidence to take the exam well.
"Seriously, what'll we have to do for the practical exam?" Midoriya asked curiously and wondered what kind of practical exam they were going to face.
"It'll be a comprehensive test of everything from the first semester." Hagakure [Rank: 18th] suggested.
"That's all Aizawa-sensei would tell us." Asui [Rank: 7th] reminded them and munches her bread.
"Everything we did so far... so, combat training and rescue training, and then basic training." Uraraka lists down the things they'd done in the class.
"We're going to apply those experiences in the practical exam." Aileen pointed out and stops chewing. "Whatever Aizawa-sensei is planning... I have a feeling the exam is going to be more intense."
"Aileen-san, your sister is third-year right?" Midoriya asked Aileen and she nodded her head. "Do you think she knows about the practical exams?"
"She is but Clara said it's going to be different and didn't go into details." Aileen answered truthfully. There's no point in asking relevant questions Clara if they're going to see it by themselves.
"They really are getting work up by the upcoming exam." Pikachu whispered at Meowstic ears and he nodded his head. "Thank goodness we're not a student."
"Cheers to that." Meowstic and Pikachu toss their Poke puffs as they eat in sync. "Delicious~" They're both in heaven by the dessert thanks to Aileen's baking.
"In addition to studying, we'll have to keep in good physical conditio-" Midoriya muttered under his breath and is cut off by someone slamming their elbow.
"Oh, sorry." Aileen glares at the culprit, Monoma, as he stares at them smugly. "Your head was so big that I accidentally hit it."
"You have a vision impairment since you're so blind to see the path is big enough to walk through than slamming someone's head." Ophelia commented sarcastically with her mischief look while Todoroki and Meowstic notice her actions. "Class 1-B, Monoma Neito." Her eyes spark darkly and Aileen gives the blonde girl with golden eyes a warning look.
"It seems like I'm well famous." Monoma smirked and Ophelia simply chuckled.
"No, more like you're a pesky pest." She commented bluntly with a dark smile.
"Don't start to look for a fight, Ophelia." Gallade pleads in a hushed tone and didn't want to start chaos here in the break.
Monoma glares at Ophelia and stares at Midoriya. "I heard you guys met the hero killer." Ophelia stares at him blankly. "Just like at the sports festival, you guys in Class A just have to have all the attention, huh?"
"We never intend to ask attention, Monoma." Aileen retorted back calmly and hoping Crystal or Riko would intervene.
Monoma waves her off which ticks Aileen off. "But that attention isn't because people have high hopes for you. It's because you keep attracting trouble, right? Oh, that's scary. Someday, the rest of us might also be caught up in the trouble you bring and become victims as well... like getting cursed by the god of pestilence! Oh, that's-" A light beam comes out of Monoma's pocket and purple glowed to jab his waist to knock him out coldly.
"Enough, Neito." It croaked and revealed a frog-like Pokemon as it managed to catch his food.
"Croagunk, nice save!" Ophelia gives the toxic mouth Pokemon a thumbs up. "I was tempting to knock him out but you beat me to it."
"That's a Pokemon!?" Midoriya exclaimed and stares at the frog-like Pokemon in front of them. "Aileen-san's Greninja is similar to that frog-like Pokemon!"
Croagunk is a dark ultramarine-blue, bipedal Pokemon that resembles a poison dart frog. It has yellow eyes, which are surrounded by black markings. There are orange, expandable pouches on its cheeks, and its teeth are wide and flat. A black marking encircles its upper arms and chest, and there are white bands around its chest. The white markings are high which represents its gender is male. It has three fingers and toes, most of which are black. The only digits that are not black are its center fingers, which are orange instead.
"Croagunk, huh?" Todoroki grabs his Pokedex and scans Croagunk.
"Croagunk, the toxic mouth Pokemon. Croagunk inflates the poison sacs in its cheeks to make croaking sounds. If an opponent flees, it attacks with poison." It explained and stares at Croagunk wary.
"He kinda reminds me of Brock's Croagunk and he uses poison jab whenever he tried to flirt girls." Aileen commented with a smile on her face. "Thank you for stopping him, Croagunk."
Croagunk nodded his head at the blue-haired girl. "Someone *croak* needs to make sure he never crosses the line." He croaked.
"There you are." They look up to see Crystal with Scorbunny on her left shoulder. "Oh? Why are we not surprised?" She sighed heavily and leave it to Monoma to stir up trouble without Croagunk to knock him out.
"Wow!" Scorbunny hops down and pokes Monoma's cheek while he's still unconscious. "Where can we bury him?" He asks nonchalant voice and Crystal gives him a pointed look. "What!? Come on, that guy would never stop his usual narcissistic."
"You shouldn't provoke and cause trouble, Monoma." Crystal sighs heavily and shook her head. "You knew Iida-san's situation and still looking for a fight."
"I volunteer to go through his mind, Crissie~!" Ophelia volunteered and didn't mind messing up Monoma's mind.
"Absolutely not, Ophie." Crystal gives her a disapproving look and she pouts. "Sorry about Monoma, he has a very sensitive heart."
"A sensitive heart that leads to annoying people *croak*" Croagunk pointed out bluntly.
"Something like that." She clears her throat slightly while ignoring their bewildered looks. "I overheard you guys about the practical exam, right? Itsuka's upperclassman friend of hers told us that we might go against those robots." Crystal informed them but she highly doubts they would bring the robots for the practical exams.
"What? Really!?" Midoriya exclaimed and couldn't believe what he was hearing right now.
"It's not cheating but I highly doubt they would bring them." She didn't want to get their hopes up but they need to get themselves ready for it.
"Are you an idiot, La Russo? We had an information advantage!" Monoma asked weakly. "You're still denying it?"
"Of course." Crystal is still rejecting the robot's idea. "Let's be blunt here. After the USJ incident, there's a chance the teachers are going to make the practical exams more challenging. A test to see how they're going to deal the villains again."
The others agreed with Crystal's opinion that they might change their exams and didn't want to repeat the robot exam again. Croagunk stares at them with an intense look. "Rumors or not *croak* always prepared for everything."
Gallade closes his eyes and sighs softly. "Croagunk is right. It's better to train ourselves harder and who knows? We might face different opponents this time."
"You traitor..." Monoma grumbled and glares at the toxic mouth Pokemon. "Don't give them advice, Croagunk. This was our chance to get ahead of the detestable Class A."
Croagunk silently hands the food tray to Crystal and she accepts it. His hands glowed purple and uses poison jab again to knock Monoma out. "Excuse us *croak*" He dragged Monoma away and the others except for Ophelia, Crystal, Aileen and their partners are sweat dropping.
"It feels like we're seeing Brock getting knocked out by Croagunk all over again." Scorbunny laughs heartedly and hops to sit on Crystal's right shoulder.
"Wish you guys the best." Crystal bids them farewell.
"Your friend sure is graceful, Ai-chan and Fee-chan." Uraraka commented and was awestruck by Crystal's graceful movements.
"Ne, Lee-lee are you going to bring all your team out during the training?" Ophelia asked Aileen curiously since she was going to train with Todoroki later.
They relayed the message to their classmates as Mina and Kaminari simply brushed off Crystal's denial. Sadly to say, they're way too happy because they can destroy the robots easily.
"Yeah." Aileen nodded her head. "It's time to introduce them properly and Zera-"
"Hey, Deku!" Bakugou cut Aileen off angrily as she and the others stare at the ash-blond boy. "I don't know if you've figured out how to use your Quirk a little or what, but you seriously keep rubbing me the wrong way."
"The way he moves during that training is like Bakugou." Ophelia commented through Aileen, Gallade and Meowstic's minds.
"To be fair, Izuku and All Might share similar Quirk." Aileen pointed out and crosses her head. "He's slowly beginning to control his Quirk but-"
"He needs to find his own style than copying someone's move." Gallade finished off Aileen's sentence.
"Exactly." Meowstic agreed.
"I don't need another half-assed result like at the sports festival." Bakugou glares at Midoriya filled with annoyance and hatred. "At the upcoming finals, we'll get individual scores, so we'll see who's better whether you like it or not. I'll beat you with an indisputable difference! I'll kill you!" He vowed to defeat Midoriya and look at the blue-haired girl. "Don't think I would forget about you, Sycamore. I'll defeat you!"
Aileen remained calm and stares back at Bakugou. "You still have a long way to go to defeat me, Bakugou. That is a fact." She retorted back calmly whereas Ophelia stares between Bakugou and Aileen in deep thoughts.
Bakugou clicks his tongue in annoyance and leaves the class before slamming the door shut angrily. Kirishima scratches his head nervously. "It's been a while since I've seen Bakugou that intense. Aileen-san, was it really that necessary to rile him up?"
"Intentions or not, he has a long way to go to defeat me, Kirishima." Aileen knows for a fact considering Bakugou still has more room to improve before he can even face her first. "If he can't defeat me, how much more Bakugou faces Ophie?" Half of her classmates nodded their heads in agreement considering Ophelia has a lot of tricks in her sleeves.
The whole class 1-A are beginning to study and train for the upcoming exams!