The second day of school marked the true beginning of the academic year. The teachers assumed they read all the necessary papers detailing how each class would operate, so the moment class started, lecture began. Gwen was pleased to find that just because her teachers were professional heroes, they did not shirk their teaching duties.
The first week went quite smoothly. Gwen slowly got a hold of each class, what they wanted her to learn, and what they expected in the final exams. Homework was building, but more than manageable. Not many people in her class asked questions, so it was mostly her. She was ostracized a bit because of that, but Gwen didn't care. If they were still moping about failing their hero entrance exams, then Gwen would leave them behind.
While each teacher differed slightly on how they taught, their efficacy could not be denied. Their goal, as Nezu identified on the first day, was to make sure each student was able to translate what they learned in high school into something of worth in the real world.
Each teacher, like their homeroom and literature teacher Cementoss, went by their hero names instead of their real names. Well, all except one, but he seemed to be the exception. Apparently it was to separate the hero's professional lives from their personal ones. Gwen could understand that. When everything you do and say is watched by the media, it is nice to be able to get away from the attention.
The basic subjects, math, science, history and english were taught, each by a professional hero who also had credentials giving them the ability to double as teachers. It was strange, seeing fully outfitted heroes reading from notes and textbooks in the front of the class instead of a normal teacher, but it seemed to work for most of 1-C, so Gwen saw no harm in it.
The work given and material taught definitely was a step-up from her American middle school. Where Gwen previously barely had to try to get good grades, after just a week at UA she found herself needing to pay rapt attention in class and consistent review afterwards. It was just what she was looking for. Getting into the habit of doing the work when it was assigned rather than when it was due gave her plenty of free time.
The library was amazing. Gwen spent a lot of time there, fascinated by the amount and variety of knowledge stored. Just as she hoped, there was an entire section dedicated to her area of interest. She could spend all three years in the hero law section alone and not finish half of what was available. Maybe if she prioritized her schoolwork less she could have more time, but Gwen would not do that.
There weren't just books either. Court cases, academic research and studies, as well as published articles from Nezu himself, there was always something different to read and study. Some were so recent that it wasn't even published online. Others were old, dating back to when quirks just emerged.
Gwen's pursuit of an education couldn't have had a better start. She found herself enjoying her time in Japan, even if it was only to go to high school. Her classes were going well, and she found a perfect place to study hero law. She just wished her classmates would be less distant from her.
Right from the start, Gwen proved to be the brightest mind in her class, maybe even in her whole year. When a teacher asked a question in class, she would answer it if no one else would. In the first rounds of quizzes and academic assessments rolled out at the end of the first week, Gwen aced them without blinking an eye. Combined with her foreign status, she found herself alone on the first few days.
Thankfully that was broken on the third day. Higuchi Suzu approached her one day asking for assistance in the upcoming academic assessment for math. Gwen, happy for company and a chance for her to review the material herself, obliged. The next day Higuchi brought over Anzai Kazuko to their study session. Compared to the bright and cheerful Higuchi, Anzai was grumpy and jaded.
When Gwen asked about it, Anzai sighed.
"Look, I'm sorry Gwen. It's not you or Higuchi, it's me. I failed the hero entrance exam. I know it's been over a week, but I just can't shake it off. I was hoping studying would distract me."
Gwen said no more. She never brought up the subject to Anzai again. The three girls went back to studying, and when the last day of the week came, the three were prepared.
Gwen left her classes confident, the same as when she completed the written exam. Higuchi was cheerful as ever, claiming Gwen's assistance boosted her a lot. Anzai joined them, looking far more relaxed and happy than before. With grades and spirits high, Gwen ended the first week in high spirits.
Throughout the week, Gwen had picked up rumors and gossip about the hero classes. Many of her classmates in gen ed were like Anazi after all. Anything about the hero class she would eat up. Gwen tried not to pay much attention to rumors, but being friends with Anazi meant she heard many.
There was a kid with green hair and a legendary strength enhancement quirk. Rumor had it he destroyed the final obstacle of the entrance exam with one punch. A blonde kid with exploding palms who had been dubbed the 'villainous student' for his attitude and mannerisms. Her classmates advised each other not to cross him.
There were some legacy kids too. The son of Endeavor, the heiress of the Yaoyorozu company, the younger brother of Ingenium, there was a lot of family legacy in Gwen's year. Not that Gwen really cared. She didn't stick her nose into the hero class because they didn't intrude on gen ed.
Over the weekend break, Gwen was constantly updated on school rumors by her two new friends. How the blonde sent the greeny to the infirmary. One of the training gyms was frozen over. Those sort of things. Gwen politely responded to each one, but didn't give them much thought. She was busy trying to set up an appointment to use one of the training gyms for some mana practice.
The next week brought a surprise. Cementoss told them in homeroom to change out in the locker rooms and meet him at one of the fields. As 1-C changed and hurried to meet their teacher, a different one was waiting for them.
"Alright you lot, settle down." A powerfully built hero in a white and red costume gruffly told them. "I'm Vlad King, and I'm here as UA's fitness teacher to conduct an evaluation on your health."
Gwen heard excited chattering around her. This Vlad King was the homeroom teacher of hero class 1-B.
"The first week was short, only half of a normal week. Now that the schedule is normalized, you will have all your classes in order. As you no doubt already know, this 'gym' class is one of them. Here at UA we want our students to be as healthy as they are smart. So, who here doesn't have a middle school fitness record?"
Gwen was the only one to raise her hand.
"And why is that?"
"I'm from the United States sensei."
"Ah, Cementoss did tell me there was one international student in his class. Alright, it's really simple. We are going to have you complete a variety of exercises to gauge your basic fitness level. The softball throw, standing long jump, endurance running, 50-meter dash, grip strength, side-to-side stepping, and the seated toe-touch. I'll have others go first so you get the basic idea of what to do. Got it?"
Gwen nodded. It seemed simple to her.
"Alright, let's get to it! Line up at the softball throw!"
Each exercise was simple. The softball throw was throwing a softball. Standing long jump was how far one could jump into a sandbox. Endurance running was how long students could run around the track. The 50-meter dash was a dash, so on and so forth.
It was a nice change of pace. Gwen's morning runs were good, but there was only so much a short run could accomplish. Over the weekend she hadn't been able to find a taekwondo studio. Maybe she would have to find some other dojo.
Gwen herself surprised many students. After revealing herself to be the studious type, many did not believe she was athletic. Imagine their surprise when she came in first for many events, even outdoing the boys in strength oriented events.
Vlad King said they weren't being graded against each other. He was evaluating them based on where they should be based on age and weight, not how they ranked when compared as a class.
"Wow Gwen, I had no idea you were so flexible!" Higuchi said, marveling at how Gwen nearly folded herself in two at the seated-toe-touch.
"It comes with practice. Do daily stretches and you'll match me in no time." Gwen said back.
"Not to mention all the other events. Who knew you were Amazonian in addition to American." Anzai grunted as she struggled to reach past her ankles.
"Good work girls." Vlad King noted down their times and went to the next group.
Finally done, the three got up and dusted themselves off. Soon the rest of the class finished as well, leaving them milling about.
"Well, we got that done faster than I thought. Usually takes us quite a bit longer. What am I going to do?" Vlad King thought aloud. Then, struck with an idea, he turned to class 1-C.
"We have a while before you need to go back to class. You're all being supervised by me, so want to do something the hero class did last week?"
1-C broke out into cries of yes.
"Alright! It's what we just did, but with quirk allowed. No one is required to do anything, so if you want to sit it out you can. Anyone who wants to come forward, let's go!"
Many took the chance. Most of those who failed the entrance exam saw this as a chance to impress the homeroom teacher of a hero class. Other's just wanted to let loose. The quiet field was now full of noise, as teenagers used their quirks in various exercises and their peers cheered.
"Not going to join them, Anzai?" Gwen asked the girl by her side.
"I think the wounds are still too fresh Gwen." She responded, lifting up her knees to rest her chin on them.
Thankfully her friends were calling her Gwen now. Tennyson was just a mouthful and Gwendolyn was only used when she was in trouble.
"Oh, what about you Gwen! You haven't told us your quirk yet, but now you can show us!" Higuchi exclaimed.
"I don't know. This really isn't my thing." Gwen shifted uncomfortably.
"Why not?" Vlad King appeared in front of them.
"Sensei?"
"You did very well on the physical Tennyson. Even without using your quirk, you scored better than some of my students in the hero course! Ha!" The teacher barked a laugh before beckoning her to join him.
"I won't lie, I want to see you perform as much as your friend there. It's just one softball toss, throw this teacher a bone will you?"
"Oh all right." Gwen stood and followed Vlad King. May as well get some practice in.
"Stay at the mound. Let me get one of the softballs." As her teacher started to turn, Gwen stopped him.
"It's all right. I can grab one from here."
Extending her hand out, Gwen focused on bringing her mana to her palm. Pink energy glowed as her hand was enveloped in a soft pink glow. Willing it to extend, the pink mana went and grabbed a softball from the box. Flicking her hand, the mana whip cracked and the softball arced through the air, into Gwen's waiting hand.
If she didn't have the attention of her class, she did now.
'How to do this.' Gwen mused as she rolled the softball in her hand.
Deciding, Gwen wrapped the ball in a thin tendril of mana, like a pink lasso. Spinning it, Gwen waited until the ball was moving very fast and let it fly. Once she saw it losing momentum, she fired a small mana blast that exploded on impact. The ball went soaring, much further than anyone else's attempts. It flew until it was a tiny spec in the sky and landed somewhere on the other side of campus.
Class 1-C fell silent, staring at the American with wide eyes.
Vlad King then broke out in laughter.
"Ahahaha! Wow, I'm impressed! Nicely done Tennyson!"
"Thank you sensei." Gwen bowed her head to her teacher.
Gwen found the entire class was still staring at her. At a loss of what to do, Gwen just lifted her hand and wriggled her fingers in greeting. She didn't shake their gazes as she sat beside her friends.
"That was so cool Gwen! I had no idea you had such a cool quirk!" Higuchi was looking at her with wide, adoring eyes.
"That was something else." Anzai agreed.
Vlad King then gave them the order to go back to class, cutting Gwen's response short. Class 1-C trudged their way back to the locker rooms. Gwen was quick to change out and was among the first to start walking. However, this time there was someone waiting for her.
"You." Gwen was startled to find one of her classmates approaching her with such a confrontational tone.
"Umm..." Gwen racked her brain to try and remember his name. Purple hair, lanky frame, eye bags.
"You are Shinsou, right?" Gwen's question went unanswered.
"Why didn't aren't you in the hero course?" He demanded.
"Pardon?" Gwen didn't really understand what was going on.
"You heard me." Shinsou said through gritted teeth. "You weren't even trying in that last test and you still blew everyone else's attempts away. Those robots at the entrance exam should not have posed a threat to you. So why are you here?"
"The entrance exam had you fighting robots?" Gwen gasped. She had no idea how strong the robots were, but if Vilgax's drones were anything to go by, it was near suicidal.
Shinsou said nothing. He just kept glowering at her. Gwen was starting to get annoyed at his attitude.
"If you must know Shinsou, I never took the entrance exam for the hero course. I only applied for gen ed."
"What?" Now it was Shinsou's turn to gasp.
"While I do admit the thought is nice, I came here from overseas with a goal of graduating from UA, not obtaining a hero license. Although, it is none of your concern. Now, I think it is time we returned to our class."
Gwen walked around Shinsou, who just watched her go, speechless.
From that point on, Gwen noticed a change in her classmates' actions towards her. She got more looks, more whispers as she passed. Thank god Anzai and Higuchi didn't change. They treated her normally, which is just what she wanted. Maybe humoring her sensei was a mistake after all.