Update as of September 2019: Changed dialogues in Tenmei and co. scene, and some monologues. No major to change the chapter's plot is made.
OCs Summary list (will be updated every-time a name and/or quirk is added)
Aikon Kioku: A dark green haired girl with the left part of her hair tied in a green ribbon. Quirk appears to be mutated camera lenses for eyes.
Azuki Makito: A girl with light blue hair with a quirk similar to Akusa. Her quirk is called Shadows which allows her to create small objects from dark spots for 3 minutes.
Lucien Akusa: A mysterious new student with blue hair with black streaks. He hides a huge scar behind a medical mask and has a quirk called Black Veil, which allows him to control shadows and become invisible.
Blanksheet: Akusa's white therapy cat. No quirk noted.
With Great Responsibility
"I never would have guessed that Shinsou of all people would be running against me for vice president," Tenmei said, exasperated.
Tenmei had only known Shinsou for a couple of days, and they haven't talked a lot either for him to truly understand what goes on in the latter's head. However, Tenmei likes to think he's a good judge of character, and he's formed quite a few opinions about Shinsou in their short talks.
He's the type of person with a lot of emotional baggage because of his history. That reluctance to connect with others would hinder him from performing at his best, and Tenmei feared that would affect his performance as the class' external representative. Shinsou already had problems connecting with them, he couldn't imagine what it would be like to other classes.
However, Tenmei supposed Shinsou had grown slightly more accepting of them since the week began. While Shinsou wanted nothing to do with them, a few of them were more than eager to ignore that and did as they pleased. Most notably, Fumei and Kureito. However their advances have yet to spur any big changes in Shinsou.
It was obvious to Shinsou that they're trying to be more than acquaintances and earnestly avoided them. By extension, so did he with everyone else. Tenmei didn't know Shinsou well enough, but he did know the latter wanted to be a hero more than anyone in class.
As much as he admired his ambition, someone that wanted to be a hero, but avoided people is no hero in his book. Heroes are meant to be a symbol of all that is good in humanity. Friendly, caring, and warm. Shinsou is none of those things.
Tenmei tried to make sense of Shinsou's attitude towards them using the fraction of the whole that Shirogane shared the other day. He understood that Shinsou couldn't change how his experiences have molded him, but Tenmei could not understand how someone can turn that history as an excuse to avoid others, especially with how strong-willed Shinsou is about his dream.
Tenmei really admired Shinsou. Much like him, he'd been told that he couldn't be a hero given his quirk. However, he didn't fight for his chance to prove himself unlike Shinsou. Intead, Tenmei gave up and accepted reality. Even if it hurt to admit. He allowed himself to search for something else, and he found it in police work.
Serving the nation, and protecting people hadn't been a hero's job in the past, it was law enforcement's. Times may have dictated otherwise but Tenmei saw honor in their work. They keep the peace when heroes cannot and they also defend the weak that the heroes fail.
He found his own calling, be it far from what he initially wanted. Every so often, he would still dream about a time when he didn't give up, and wonder if it was still possible. It still hurt, but not as much. He had learned to adapt to find his place, and that is one thing Tenmei didn't think Shinsou is capable of at the moment.
Adaptability. It's something a hero, or anyone in the field of serving others should have, regardless if it's a city or a classroom setting.
While he believed in Shinsou's dream, he could not imagine him in a position of political power alongside him. The other man is simply too stubborn. He was passionate and driven, yes. Ambitious and skilled, definitely. However, Shinsou was also critical of himself and everyone around him to slow down and appreciate what is directly in front of him.
Tenmei feared that his difficulty to reach a compromise with others may affect not only his personal pursuit as a hero but also harm their relationship with the other classes. He sighed again. "Not that I have a problem with it. It's just a bit surreal."
"That's because it is. We did make an entire new position to fit him in," Kimura said. "Not that I can complain about it. I did vote. Are you worried?"
"A bit," Tenmei mumbled. "Shinsou's... demeanor may reflect badly on the class' image."
"I suppose," the mushroom head said. "He's not an easy one but Fumei can talk to him, so maybe he's not that bad."
"That's Fumei, I don't think he cares about what Shinsou feels either way," Tenmei said. "Shinsou's too… guarded. If someone says the wrong thing, he may end up arguing with someone and drag the whole class with him."
Makito shifted in her seat while Nusumi orchestrated a messy art piece using the left-overs on her plate. "Shinsou wants to be a hero right?" the girl asked. "Then he must be a good person. Sure he... looks like that, and he's not the best at socializing but I trust him. You should too Tenmei. We all should."
"Maki-chan is so positive all the time," Nusumi said. "I wish I could do that..."
"Oh? I think you're pretty positive all the time already Nusumi-chan!" Makito said.
"Aww. Thanks, hun," she jumped over the table and pulled Makito into a hug. She pushed off the trays near the edge table, but Tenmei was able to catch them from falling.
"If my luck has taught me anything," Nusumi said, "positive thinking doesn't really do much. Not that, that's a bad thing! It's very strong magic!"
Makito giggled, while Kimura leaned on his right arm. "Out of yours you mean," Kimura said.
"Oh, Kimu-chan you flatter me," she blushed. "It's not my fault I can control luck."
"What's your opinion on it then, Nusumi?" Tenmei inquired.
"Well… Let's see..." Nusumi hummed even though she really didn't do much thought. She was the type of person that didn't like thinking if she could escape it. Thinking is boring, and given the nature of her quirk, thought was always asked of her to control it properly. She didn't like being caged like that and preferred to live in the moment.
A lot of people called her immature for thinking that way, but Nusumi saw it as a way of being free. All her life, she's been controlled, and the only thing they couldn't control was her quirk. She wanted to keep that part of herself free at least. Nusumi thrived in chaos, so it's hard to put in an opinion about someone that had strict moral codes against it.
Despite having the same arsenal for disarray like her, Shinsou seemed more in control of his desires. He was clear about his goal and how we planned to take it. Unlike Nusumi, he wouldn't play around with his quirk if it wasn't necessary. He was too cautious of it unlike Nusumi who was careless about it.
If she had gotten his quirk, Nusumi knew she'd be just as irresponsible as she is with her own. Shinsou having the mind control quirk was probably a blessing in disguise no one thought to recognize. Shinsou was composed and logical. He understood the dangers of his quirk, and refused to use it for such evils.
Shinsou is not a social butterfly. In fact, she thought he was the worst at it, but he was responsible. Very responsible even. Nusumi knew she didn't have half of the self-control and discipline Shinsou has with his quirk. If he had that level of management with himself, then he surely can redirect that outwards.
However, she also understood Tenmei's concern. Not everyone was as studious as him or Katagiri, nor capable of leading others. Shinsou hated socializing. If he were to take the responsibility, then he'd have to grow out of that shell, and repeatedly meet expectations.
Out of everything, Nusumi thought that's what Shinsou dreaded the most. Nusumi would understand if Shinsou too was afraid of failing expectations thrust upon him. It was what she ran away from too after all.
Unlike her, however, Nusmi felt as though Shinsou was more of a fighter than she was. He wants to be a hero more than anything, and all heroes are leaders. If he couldn't take this responsibility, then he wouldn't last as a hero for long.
"I think he'll be fine," she finally concluded. "Besides, you'll be there to guide him if he messes up; and I trust you."
Tenmei smiled. "Thank you, that's nice of you to say."
"Don't mention it," Nusumi said. She activated her quirk, and some poor yellow haired boy with black lightning-shaped streaked hair slipped beside their table. He screamed as he fell on his behind, then a pack of freshly baked cookies and a cold of apple juice landed graciously on Nusumi's lap. "Oh, lucky~"
Tenmei grabbed the juice carton before she can drink from it and apologized to the fallen student in behalf of Nusumi, who pouted in defeat. "That was my juice."
Hitoshi groaned when someone's panicked scream broke his moment of self-pity. He saw the commotion not too far from where he was seated, and glared at the group of rambunctious first years; laughing at their friend who somehow slipped on a banana peel.
"Look at that!" Fumei gasped. "Shinsou's back in the land of the living,"
Hitoshi rolled his eyes and dropped his head back down on the table. "Shut up, Fumei. Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?"
The blond held his chest in dramatic shock. "Oh. My. God. He said my name."
"He's only called you dumbass before," Kureito feigned amazement. "The power of being external vice president is starting to go to his head. Maybe we should kick him down a peg and remind him of his place."
"Yes, let's do that."
"Stop being so mean," Kioku said. "You're not helping."
"He was mean to us first!" Fumei argued. "I'm allowed to retaliate!"
"He's being mean, I'm just parroting."
"That's no excuse."
"He used his quirk twice on me already, and he said he'd never use his quirk so selfishly! Mind you those were his words," Fumei said. "Therefore, I'm allowed to be an asshole!"
Hitoshi recalled the instances he did break his own rule just to push Fumei away. He was already in a bad mood, and Fumei didn't give him a moment's rest; so he made him walk into a wall. Hitoshi didn't feel as bad as he thought he would after it, so he stopped trying to feel guilty about it when he clearly wasn't.
The second time he used his quirk was to lose him and Kureito in the dining hall. Regardless of his control, both of them managed to locate him with Kioku's eyes. "You've always been an asshole," Hitoshi said.
"Now that just hurts my feelings," Fumei huffed. "I've been nice to you plenty of times!"
Hitoshi almost laughed. Who does Fumei think he's lying to?
"Is being vice president really that bad?" Kureito asked.
"I never asked to be one," Hitoshi snarled, "so yes, it is."
"Then why not just back out?" the pink haired boy said. "You can ways forfeit."
Hitoshi knew that, and he wanted to, but couldn't. He froze up before he could put a word in and Katagiri made the positions final.
"Unless you were sleeping with your eyes open, everyone decided for me. Starting with her," Hitoshi snapped, turning his head towards Kioku, who narrowed her lenses at him.
"I'm not forcing you into it," she said. "I nominated you for a reason, and they agreed. If you don't, then I'm sure Tenmei will gladly take the responsibility off you. Excuse me." Kioku stood up and left without another word.
Hitoshi didn't look at Kioku as she passed by. Everything was her fault and if she hadn't nominated him, his life would still be normal. He didn't need this unnecessary distractions.
"That wasn't nice," Fumei mumbled in a low tone.
"You're the one to talk," Hitoshi hissed back fully aware of how awful Fumei can be behind his innocent smiles and charming words.
"I may be an asshole, but at least I don't make girls cry."
Hitoshi's eye twitched as Fumei excused himself to comfort Kioku, while Kureito looked at him with a blank, judging stare. Hitoshi ignored it.
It wasn't his fault.
"You know," Kureito started. "No one's going to judge you if you decide to give it up. Not everyone's made for politics. I mean look at me –" Hitoshi turned his head away, pretending not to listen.
"I would love to be vice president. It's good for resumes, but…" he laughed bitterly. "M'not diligent enough for it. Too lazy. I've got dreams sure, but I'd rather get there when I get there than work for it. You know?"
Hitoshi really didn't.
"But you?" the pink hair said, "You've got that fire in your eyes that my sister does. She's hard on herself because she knows what she can and cannot do. This here is new territory, you dont know if can or cannot do it, so you run away.
"Can't say I blame you," he said with a shrug. "I'd also give it up if it were me. Too much of a headache."
"Then I'll give it up," Hitoshi concluded. "I'll tell Sensei about it."
"Oh, hey, whoa whoa," Kureito said. "I don't want to be the reason you actually dropped out. I also think you'd be great for this position. Want my advice?"
"Not really."
"Being a hero also means being able to lead. If you can't unite the class, how else do you plan on doing it as a hero?"
Hitoshi frowned, not really expecting some wise words to come out from the pink haired boy's mouth. He wanted to ignore the advice since he didn't want it in the first place, but it made too much sense to forget.
There was something more to just being a hero than fighting villains or saving people. Hitoshi knew that. Being a hero was a responsibility. Being vice president was also a responsibility, regardless of how small it was compared to hero work. If Hitoshi wanted nothing more than to run away from that, then how can he hold the title of hero with honor and pride?
"You being nice is disgusting," Hitoshi growled.
"And you've got a terrible personality, but here I am making you feel better," Kureito drawled, "I deserve a prize."
Hitoshi rolled his eyes, and Kureito finally stopped talking to him. The pink haired student pulled out his phone and started typing on it, before a loud sound rang in the hall.
UUUUUUUUUREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
"What –?"
People jumped from their seats, and quickly left half-finished bentos and lunch-trays unattended as they bolted for the lone entrance in and out of the dining hall.
Hitoshi caught Tenmei on the other table waving an accusing finger at Nusumi, who explained herself while she tried to calm a hyperventilating Makito.
UREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! SECURITY LEVEL 3 HAS BEEN BROKEN. SECURITY LEVEL 3 HAS BEEN BROKEN.
"Three?" Hitoshi repeated. "What's level 3?"
"No idea," Kureito said, "but that numbers concerning." He looked down on his phone again and started sending out messages to people he knew. Hitoshi saw one of them with Fumei's handle.
ALL STUDENTS PLEASE EVACUATE IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.
The instructions were easy enough to follow, but everyone was too panicked to process them properly. Large groups of students started pushing and shoving themselves towards the exit while they screamed for order.
Kureito tried to get someone to explain what was going on but was pushed back into his seat. Hitoshi crawled on top of the table to calmly assess the situation. For all they know, this was just a drill and they were panicking for nothing.
"Hey!" Kureito shouted at an older student hovering above them with jetpacks. "What's alert level 3?"
The student flew down closer to them. He made a sweeping motion with his arm as though guiding them with the rest of the student body towards the exit. "Someone broke in the building! It hasn't happened in my three years here, so hurry up and get outta here!"
"Well shit," Kureito cursed. "Guess we should head out. We don't know how bad this could be."
"I'm not stepping in that stampede."
"I'm not dying because someone was too stubborn to follow protocol either," Kureito said and grabbed Hitoshi's hand without warning.
Hitoshi felt Kureito's grip dig into his wrist and tried to shake him off, but the pretty boy appeared to be stronger than he looks. Wherever Kureito went, Hitoshi got swept right behind him. Even if that meant swimming in a hallway filled with panicked and sweaty teenagers.
"OW, OW!"
"STOP SHOVING!"
"–WAIT, I'M GONNA FALL!"
"I SAID QUIT PUSHING!"
Someone's shoulder shoved itself into Hitoshi's face, and Kureito cursed out loud when someone jabbed his sides. "We should get to high ground," Kureito said. "Where the hell is Aki when you – AH!" Kureito tripped on someone's leg and fell down on the ground.
Hitoshi pulled out his arm before the other can drag him down with him, and was pushed away from where Kureito dropped. He called out for him in slight concern, and tried to push back to where he last saw him. However, everyone was too adamant to make it out alive that he just got carried to the opposite direction.
"Shit," Hitoshi clicked his tongue as he pushed back against the people trying to get in on his personal space. A fist knocked him on the side of his face, and Hitoshi snarled at the anonymous student, who immediately apologized.
In everyone's haste, Hitoshi managed to catch a sliver of familiar silver hair near the window. Okami had pressed herself near the window and was screaming at Fukuro who had an arm raised in the center of the crowd. She cried for help as she slowly sank beneath the sea of people.
Shanti immediately dove after her but was also swallowed alive by the growing stampede.
Okami snarled as she assessed her options for movement and morphed into a small pup. She bounced over people's heads while searching for them, until her stamina ran out and she returned to her human form. People carried her over their shoulders farther away from her friends while she screamed for people to bring her down.
Hitoshi almost tripped on his own feet when someone was pushed into his arms. He fought the urge to chuck them as far away from him as possible until he recognized her violet and pink locks.
The girl raised her head to apologize to him, and Katagiri's eyes blew up in recognition. "SHINSOU! I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Ngh –!" he winced as someone stepped their heels on his toe. "That's an understatement."
"Have you seen anyone else?"
"I got separated with Kureito," he said. "Okami's got carried away. Fukuro and Shanti somewhere in this crowd. I saw Tenmei and his group back at the hall. I don't know if they–" Someone attempted to climb over him, and Shinsou pushed them off. The student fell over and caught Katagiri's hair for support.
Katargiri squealed and slapped the guy's hands off.
"Stop it guys!" a red head with jagged shark like teeth shouted. "Slow down! Slow down!"
More people screamed, and Hitoshi could almost make out names from the noise. He ignored them and instead focused on his current goal, to protect Katagiri and make it safely to the exit.
Amidst the noise and panic, someone jumped out from the crowd and started revving up something like an engine. The motors churned to life and the person thrust themselves forward' leaving a trail of hot smoky air behind them. They hit the wall on the other end of the corridor and hastily grabbed onto pipes above the door for stability.
"EVERYONE –" the black haired boy shouted, "EVERYTHING IS FINE!"
The crowd immediately stopped in shock at the sudden voice of reason and looked up boy. "IT'S JUST THE PRESS. THERE'S NOTHING TO PANIC ABOUT. WE ARE FINE!" he continued to reassure both old and new students alike. "THIS IS YUUEI! BEHAVE IN A WAY BEFITTING THIS GREAT INSTITUTION!"
As people started to whisper amongst themselves, Hitoshi narrowed his eyes on the engine's sticking out of the student's legs. There's only one family in Japan who had a quirk like that... "He's an Iida."
"You know him?" Katagiri asked.
Hitoshi shakes his head. He didn't know him personally, but his family was large enough to become a household hero name. They even had their own agency. It wouldn't surprise him if the boy was part of the hero class. Hitoshi kept his eyes on Iida as the latter started commanding the crowd with a cool-head and sense of authority; and everyone ate up his every word like they trusted him.
That was true leadership.
Heroes are leaders not because they can be, but because they are the only ones strong and brave enough to take on a challenge with a level head. People trust them, and that's why they follow heroes through danger.
Katagiri pulled at his sleeve to get his attention. "We should find the others. Message the chat to regroup in class?"
"Sure," Hitoshi mumbled as he pulled out his phone and sent an alert to everyone in the chat. What followed was a mix of reactions that were either too stunned or surprised to see him live in the message board, and acting like a stand-up class representative.
"No ordinary reporter could have done this," a small mouse like creature, wearing a black suit vest over a white dress shirt said as he ran a paw over grey dust that settled beneath Yuuei's entrance gate. A number of Yuuei's prestigious hero staff stood behind him, eyeing the destruction with heavy unease. "Someone instigated this whole affair… Did some evildoer manage to slip in? Or do they intend to wage some greater war?"
"Should we search the campus?" a curvaceous woman with long black hair and blue eyes suggested. "Whoever got in may still be here."
"They could also be long gone now. All the reporters have been escorted out,so there would be no point to stick around."
"We should still secure the students safety Principal Nedzu," an old woman in a doctor's coat insisted. "A quick check would do them no harm."
Principal Nedzu nodded. "Very well. Midnight, gather anyone who's on free period to search the grounds. Have Hound Dog check the nearby facilities for tampering. We can't be too sure if this attack was meant to send a warning or as a distraction."
The 18+ Only Hero: Midnight nodded firmly and immediately contacted the other heroes to action. Principal Nedzu remained to study the gates as the winds picked up something ominous in the air.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Meanwhile, intrigued eyes watched multiple heroes scramble for recon around the school ground from within Yuuei's own walls. The figure chuckled as they flicked around a small flash drive on their hand. "Won't find me there heroes. Try a little closer to home."
They glanced down at the dusty remains of the gate and scoffed. "He knows his role, huh? Well, whatever. Whatever sends him in a good mood and plays directly in my favor is fine by me." Their phone vibrated in their pocket to read a familiar unregistered number. "Hey, Giri' to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Do you have it?"
"Straight to business as always..." the figure pouted. "I'm a little hurt."
"This is no time for idle chatter," Kurogiri reminded them. "Master Tomura's game is set to begin and your information is crucial." The other line went silent. "Do you, or do you not have it?"
The figure snarls as they turned a corner. "Jeez, calm down. Yes. I have it. Who do you think I am?"
"Good," Kurogiri sighed. "Have it delivered by the day. Sensei also wishes to see you soon about that other agenda."
The figures eyes narrowed with intrigue. "About time. Got a date?"
"Whenever convenient." The line goes dead and the figure frowned in offense at the screen. "So much for a check-up call."
A camera panned to the figures direction, its little indicator blinking red ceaselessly on record. The figure pauses to regard the video for a moment and smiled. They gave a playful wave and said, "See you never. Thanks for this!"
They threw the drive in the air and caught it with an open palm as they exited the camera's range. On the other end of the recording, the video merely recorded an empty hallway filled with administrative rooms.
A/N: I absolutely did not watch Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse to influence this chapter's title. But seriously, go treat yourself this Christmas and watch that beautiful work of art. You may not be a Spider-man fan, but I guarantee you, you'd be one after this.
And so begins the witch hunt for the traitor, who could it be?