Ring Ring Ring
A default ringtone suddenly started playing from the kitchen. Gwen looked up from her research, frowning. She had never gotten a call this late before. Walking over, Gwen turned her phone over to see the caller ID.
UA's Public Relations office. Gwen racked her head to think of why UA administration would be calling her. She was doing well academically, no issues with teachers or other students. Probably a general message sent out to the student body at large.
Gwen raised the phone to her ear and played the message.
"Hello, this is UA's principal, Nezu, calling to inform all students of UA that the rest of the week has been canceled. I repeat, classes on Friday and Saturday are canceled. An incident occured off-campus involving one of our classes that requires our immediate attention. UA campus will be closed off to all those without special clearance. Please resume class next week Monday. Thank you for understanding, and have a good rest of your evening."
Gwen put down the phone, thoughts racing at what was just said.
'Classes canceled?' Gwen had never experienced classes being canceled. Bellwood never got snow days or weather so bad it prevented school. The school week had nothing but fine weather, so something must have happened to that one class Nezu mentioned.
Gwen's thoughts landed on a hero class. Gen ed classes had no reason to leave the main campus. Support students were holed up in the development studios. Business also had no good reason to leave.
Gwen then heard her phone vibrate, signaling that a text had gone through. Then it buzzed again. Then again, until her phone was moving side to side with all the vibrations. Higuchi, ever the gossipmonger, was flooding the group chat Gwen had made with her and Anzai with all the rumors she had gathered in the minutes since she got Nezu's automated message.
Gwen shut her phone off and gently placed it face down on her desk. There was no need to look into rumors when she could just check the news the next day. Something big must have happened if UA was going to shut down for a couple days. That would surely attract attention. In the meantime, Gwen had to finish the work she designated for the night.
Try as she might though, she couldn't quite finish. Her mind was full of thoughts other than mathematics, as her curiosity was just dying to know what happened. So, Gwen decided to turn in early for the night. She had two extra days to complete her homework and study after all.
When she woke up the following morning, Gwen performed her morning routine and then went to check the news on her laptop. She didn't even finish typing on the keyboard when search results for 'UA villain attack' poured down the search bar.
Gwen caught the UA press conference, detailing what had happened during the day prior. Hero class 1-A had gone to the off-campus site, the USJ, where a new group of villains ambushed them. A fight broke out that got all 20 students involved and hospitalized two heroes, which only ended when All Might personally finished it. The large hero was speaking at a podium alongside UA staff, reassuring parents that while he was teaching, no harm would come to the students.
While the class seemed mostly physically unharmed, several photos and videos of the class leaving the USJ were played when the press conference ended. The hero class had pale faces, slumped shoulders and dragged their feet. Some seemed fine, like the angry looking blonde and the duel-colored boy. The class looked shaken, but were standing. Reminded Gwen of her first few battles alongside Grandpa Max and Ben.
Gwen shut off her laptop once the news started to go into speculation. All the facts had been presented and Gwen now knew why class was canceled. UA needed time for damage control, both in their defenses and from the press.
School took up so much time that without it, Gwen was at a loss of what to do. She knew that after dinner was enough time to finish her work, but it wasn't even noon yet. The day was young and Gwen had nothing pressing to do for the first time in forever.
She went grocery shopping on Sundays, so her food supplies were fine. UA was closed, so no library. Maybe she could work out some more? Wait, that's it! Time to find a place to practice martial arts.
Mind made up, Gwen changed into more comfortable walking clothes and left for the station. There was an area about a 15 minute ride from her apartment that had a couple distinguished dojos for her to evaluate.
But as Gwen finally arrived at her destination, her fear was made to reality. The first two of the three dojos she looked at were jujutsu focused. There was nothing wrong with that particular style of japanese martial arts, but Gwen had already practiced the style.
She would choose one if no other place caught her eye, but she did selfishly admit she wanted something different. She was in the nation that founded many iconic martial arts styles. It would be a major loss if she didn't capitalize on it.
Gwen approached the final dojo, much smaller and homelier than the other two. It also taught jujutsu, but also had Aikido and weapon based styles. Kendo, Iaido, Kenpo, the list was impressively long, all with guarantees that a genuine master would teach students.
"Kendo Dojo?" Simple name, with just the surname of the family running the place displayed on a sign above the entrance. Simple name for a simple place.
Gwen entered and the familiar sounds of bodies smacking onto mats found her ears. Grunts and yells from other rooms, swishing of wooden practice blades and the smell of sweat were all sounds that she knew and loved. A knot of homesickness grew in her belly.
Although, despite the familiarity of the sounds, it wasn't that loud. Most of the sword noises and shouts were coming from a small room, where a class was being held. At the far end of the main room, two men were engaged in a form of wrestling. Close to them as a girl going through drills.
"Eh, what's this?" Gwen jolted upright as the voice of a man caught her off guard.
An older looking gentleman in a clean white gi approached her with hands collapsed behind his back. He had faint orange hair and teal eyes, his skin roughed and tanned. His hands were covered in caulouses that told of years of hard work. He looked at Gwen with an inquisitive look.
"You, girl. You look about the same age as my daughter. Why aren't you in school?" He narrowed his eyes, suspicious.
Gwen pushed past her confusion to answer. "I'm sorry for intruding. I am Tennyson Gwendolyn, but please call me Gwen. There was an incident at my school, so my classes were canceled for the day."
"Oh? By any chance do you attend UA?" The man asked.
"Yes. I suppose it is no secret of what happened, it being all over the news and all." Gwen responded.
"Ah, makes sense then. My daughter also goes to UA; she's in the hero course! Class 1-B."
"Oh! That is an impressive feat. I'm just in the gen ed course, class 1-C."
"Don't sell yourself short girl. Nothing wrong with taking pride in what you've accomplished, no matter how small they might be."
"Thank you for your kind words." Gwen bowed her head in appreciation.
"Now then, let's get down to business! I saw that look in your eye when you walked in: the look of familiarity. I take it you've got history with martial arts?"
"Yes sir. Taekwondo is what I've practiced the most, but I also have some experience in jujutsu."
"Hmph." The man leaned in close.
Very close. Gwen wanted to step back, but when she did he withdrew as fast as he approached.
"Not a novice, not by a long shot. You're good. I sense that you've not only practiced martial arts, but also had to use it."
Gwen's eyes widened. How did he know?
"You don't run a dojo for decades and not pick up a trick or two on evaluating people." The dojo master chuckled before growing serious again. "You seem like a good person, so I assume it wasn't for malicious purposes."
"It was to protect my cousin and grandfather." That was more-or-less the truth, even if Gwen was oversimplifying it greatly.
"Protecting family. A noble cause. Very well, I think you could fit in just fine here. Just one last test." The man said, then shoved a set of clothes into Gwen's hands.
"Changing rooms are down the hall on the right."
"Wait sir! What should I call you?" Gwen called after him.
"We'll go over that after the last test!" He hollered back.
Gwen stood for a second before shrugging and moving to the changing rooms. The clothing she was given was just as familiar to her as the sounds of the dojo were. A clean white doji to wear over simple clothes to prevent chafing and gave ease of movement. Gwen tightened her belt and walked out barefoot, leaving her shoes and socks behind.
"Over here Gwen." Gwen walked over to the waving dojo master and stood upright in front of him.
"I think I have a good lead on your skill level, but for the sake of your opponent I'll refrain from saying it aloud."
"My opponent?" Gwen asked, confused.
"Hmm, should have led off with what you are going to do. Oh well." The man turned to the back of the room.
"Itsuka!" He yelled, and the girl who had been doing drills snapped to attention.
She ran up to them. "Yes father?"
"I've found you a sparring partner. She's new here, but not to martial arts. Don't hold back, cause I'm sure she won't!" The dojo master then turned back to Gwen.
"This is my daughter, Kendo Itsuka!"
"Pleased to meet you." Kendo bowed in greeting. She had a similar build to Gwen, being about the same height. She had teal eyes and orange hair, like her father.
"I'm Tennyson Gwendolyn, but please call me Gwen." Gwen bowed herself and repeated what she told the dojo master.
"Alright girls, let's get this started! To the mat!"
Gwen and Kendo took their positions on the blue matting of the dojo, within a white circle.
"This isn't official, so we're just gonna use simple rules. No quirks allowed. The circle is just to show you where to spar, don't think you can't leave it, just don't leave the mat. Pin down your opponent to win. Understood?"
Both girls nodded and took their stances.
"Begin!"
Kendo and Gwen eyed each other at first. Neither was sure of the other's fighting style, so they didn't know what to expect. Gwen's taekwondo training gave her a focus on kicking techniques. But Kendo didn't know that. Gwen could punch, strike and block, so she led off with that.
Gwen kicked first, flicking her leg out lightning fast. Kendo bounced back, Gwen's foot only brushing against her knee.
Kendo bounced on the balls of her feet, dodging left and right. She was like a boxer, looking for a moment to strike.
A moment must have come because Kendo rushed forward, arm in motion. Gwen moved to intercept, but her arms were knocked aside.
Kendo, using her back to add more force behind her punch, sent her fist towards Gwen's face. Gwen moved her shoulder, taking the blow meant for her face. A flash of pain racked her body.
Gwen locked her arms around Kendo, who pushed herself free. Kendo tried the same attack again, but Gwen flicked her leg and hit Kendo in the elbow. Hissing in pain, Kendo fell back.
The back-and-forth attracted the others in the dojo. The two men who were practicing jujutsu were now watching the girls sparring. The sword class had ended and several of those people exited the room and were also watching.
Both girls were sweating, but neither was down. Gwen hadn't identified the specific martial arts Kendo practiced, but it was obviously something that focused on punches. This gave Gwen the reach advantage with her leg-focused style. But Gwen had a plan, and figured out that if Kendo did a certain punch the match could be over in a single move.
Gwen held her hands out, waiting. Kendo cried out, swinging her right arm out in a punch.
Gwen dodged out of the way and grabbed the arm, holding it still. Stepping closer, Gwen extended her other arm to grab Kendo by the collar. Now too close for Kendo to respond properly, Gwen let go of Kendo's arm to grab onto her gi with both hands.
Turning so she now faced the same way as Kendo, Gwen pulled with all her strength, heaving Kendo over her head in a throw. Kendo hit the mat on her back, her arms and legs outstretched. Still holding onto her opponent's gi, Gwen flipped over to sit on Kendo's chest, pinning her down.
Gwen was so focused on the match that the sudden applause around her scared her.
"Well played, well done indeed!" The dojo master laughed, clapping with the rest of the room.
Gwen got up from Kendo and held out a hand for her. Kendo closed her eyes, laughing as well, before accepting the hand and pulling herself up.
"That was a good match." Gwen told her.
"You got me good." Kendo shook herself off. She smiled at Gwen.
"Care for a second round?"
Gwen turned to the dojo master, who flashed her a thumbs up.
"We'll handle membership and money later. Go on, practice to your heart's content!"
Gwen stretched her arms and legs before facing Kendo.
"Alright, let's go!"