Arc 2, Chapter 8

Slowly but surely, they leave the large city and enter an area with many trees and forests. Not even the tallest buildings cannot be seen. Kingu and Kota have been riding in a car for a while, Kota already got bored of staring outside and pulled out some game console. Kingu eyed the color of the thing but when he asked Kota what that was about, he just got a shrug as a reply.

At some point, the car starts slowing down, Shino in her hero costume was in the front while looking around as if searching for something, the other members of the Wild Wild Pussycats rode in a car behind them. Soon enough, they seemed to have reached their goal - a number of busses that stod by a considerably large building and surrounded by a number of kids. Teens to be specific.

The car stop completely. Shino turns to the two of them, making sure that everything is in order. "Your room is on the top floor, far right, Kingu, can you carry the bags please?" He nodded in response. "Thank you. I'll be there to help you out in a moment once we have finished with the students. If there is going to be some issue."

"Understood."

With her attention elsewhere, she now stepped out to finally welcome the UA students. Kingu already removed the seatbelts from both of them, Kota grabbed his bag filled with all kinds of time-killing devices and hopped out himself, ignoring the 'oohs' and 'aahs' outside as the UA kids admired the modern heroes.

"It is… big." Kingu first thought that Kota is talking about the building, but then he turned around to see that he is looking at the trees around them. "Why did I think that It is going to be a bit smaller?"

"I have seen bigger," Kingu replied.

"You have always say that."

"Because it is true." At this point, he grabs the suitcases from the back of the car, those that belong to the two of them as Shino and co already have most of their things here. The car closes with a dull sound. "Let's go."

Kota sprints forward, determined to be the first one inside and possibly to grab the best spot in their room. Kingu wonders whether he even knows how to get upstairs.

A weak itch on his back stopped him from following the human child. He looks around shortly until he finds the source. That source turned out to be one of the teens - a blond boy. While he caught the eyes of several people, all of them except for this one turned around once they have noticed him looking their way. He continued to stare even after their eyes met.

Annoying.


Overall, there was not that much to be impressed by. While in some certain eras, these kids could be considered adults, over here they were still just kids that needed some training. They were... uninteresting to say the least. As Kingu learned and may be observed a little, the UA staff, allowed barely any time for the kids to adjust to their new surroundings before forcing them into some class. UA school - a school for 'heroes' that the Wild Wild Pussycats worked with every single year to host a summer camp.

The groups of kids were all excited to enjoy summer and then all that excitement was crushed faster than Kingu ever could. It was actually quite funny to watch. Kota pointed his small finger at the suffering kids with a big smile present on his face, enjoying the situation way too much while forgetting that he himself has some homework to finish.

Kingu wondered whether he should remind him of that little fact or not, but in the end, decided against destroying that small joy of his. It is going to kick him in the shin eventually without his input.

"Just wait to be our age you brat!" Or some of the other kids could fulfill that role as well. Kora snorts, not taking the taller boy seriously.

"Kingu could take all of you on without breaking a sweat you hero wannabies!"

...

Kingu resisted the urge to hide his face in embarrassment. While that was going on, several kids stood up from their seats, upset with the statement, with Kota and glaring at Kingu as well. Before anything could happen, and be said, the green-haired weapon reached out and put his hand over Kota's mouth.

"I apologize for the disturbance."

Kota was unceremoniously slung over his shoulder and walked out, trying to preserve the little dignity that was left. Just why did he have to go and insult the whole class? He asked himself as Kota finally realized that he had been turned into a bag of potatoes and started protesting.

"Kinguuuu! Let me down!"

That angry tone somehow continued even after Kingu plopped him down in Shino's office.

"But it is true, isn't it? You could have beaten them all."

Kingu opened his mouth to respond but then closed it, then scratched his head in frustration. "Technically, yes."

"See? Besides, they are just..."

Kingu sighed. Kota never finished his sentence, not that he needed to, he knew exactly where he was going. Figures that he would still resent the heroes to some degree. "Kingu is the only hero I need."

The sentence was almost whispered, but he still caught it clearly and he had no clue how to respond to that at all.

"I am not a hero." Kingu eventually said.

"Well, you are to me. You saved everyone from there. Including me. That is why you are the best."

But he really is not a hero - such a small thing barely fixes everything else he had done. "T-thanks. I guess." He still found himself saying.


As expected, Kota got scolded, then Kingu got scolded for whatever reason. Then they found out that he is not wearing shoes when walking around outside. Again. Then dinner rolls around and the kids sit all around them and Kingu does his best to ignore the glares. Kota is completely ignorant of the dangers around them.

Kingu does not really eat, just sort of pokes at the offered meal while putting one or two pieces into his mouth to be polite while all the others gobbled their portions down, including the human child next to him. Sooner or later, he is going to eat his portion as well anyway. When Kingu won't be looking.

What brought Kingu out of his thoughts was a commotion. He looked around to see what is going on to spot a bond kid loudly chatting with what looked like his friend. "No, absolutely not!"

"Come on!"

It was the blond kid from before, one that kept staring at Kingu earlier that day.

The blond steps forward and then... and then he somehow falls through the flor with the only thing that remains behind are his clothes.

This event is followed by several things: First, there is silence. Just the kids staring stunned at the spot where the blond used to be. Once that wore off, the mayhem began. The female half of the class squealed and quickly grabbed onto their food and just bolted out of there. The male side was torn between laughing their butts off, looking embarrassed and some rare individual just did not care.

Kingu made a conclusion that this is a common occurrence.

The kid came flying out of the ground like a boomerang, hitting the ceiling before bouncing off it and finally landing in the corner.

Like a cherry on the top, there was a confused 'what' next to him. The weapon turned around to find his place empty, obviously not eaten by the kid next to him. Kota looked around confused, obviously having no idea what had just happened in spite of all the noise. "What is going on?"

Kingu sighed.

Really?

"He what?" Was Kota's response when Kingu told him what had happened. The place was still in chaos, someone threw the blond's clothes at him and he was already doing his best to fix his mistake. The teachers were upset, students were upset, the girls were enraged. "That is some weird quirk."


"Sooner or later, you are going to have to start attending a school as well," Shino said as she handed Kingu a small mountain of books. He, in return, was as thrilled as he looked. "You will get used to it in time. Well, it doesn't mean that you will go to school within the next few months, but at some point in the future."

He picked the first book and opened it. Math. The next one contained what looked like grammar.

He just knows that he is not going to like this. These things were so dumb.

"Have you thought about what would you like to do in the future?" Kingu paused at the question and looked at his guardian. She looked genuinely curious to hear what the answer is going to be.

"... I am good at fighting. It is my main function." He answered, carefully. "I don't think I mind it."

"Do you enjoy fighting?" She asked, now looking thoughtful.

... He once thought that he did. Now? He didn't know. "I don't know. I think I just don't dislike it."

"You could be a hero. You have a strong quirk." She replied. Quirk, he felt his fingers twitch. It is not a quirk. It is you humans that have quirks. Somehow, he has managed to keep a straight face. "Those chains are strong both offensively and defensively, not to mention..." Then she stopped, seemingly lost in her thoughts. "Just wondering, what exactly is your quirk? Don't take it wrong, but there are so many things that you can do."

Kingu sighed.

"Chain of Heaven."

"Pardon?"

"If my ability had a name, that is what it would be called." Should be called at least. What would Enkidu do? He was going to continue, only that he caught himself wanting to say something that wouldn't probably work. Humans don't really understand things the same way he does.

Kingu scratched his head in frustration. Then he realized that he has done this twice on the same day. "Kingu?"

"When I... when this body was born. This body doesn't have a default shape, but if it had one it would be either what you are looking at or a shape of a chain. My main function is to restrain, everything else comes secondary, as something to achieve that goal." He paused. Shino was listening to him intently. Kingu wondered whether the explanation he came up with was simple enough to understand.

"Transfiguration so I could have the necessary tools to catch and keep them in place. Presence Detection, so I could find them. When this body was born, It did not have eyes or ears or any other senses. It developed as a response to that. Perfect Form so I could withstand attacks and repair. Then there is..."

Shino at that point gained a very surprised 'really?' look. He paused and looked away. Technically, it was not necessary for her to know about these two, what are the chances that he would be forced to use something that would be essentially Enkidu's Noble Phantasm?

Especially that one.

When he stopped and thought about it, he doesn't want to use Enuma Elish ever again. It. Just. It hurt too much.

"Are you alright?" Shino stood from her chair and walked closer, the surprised looked had already morphed into that of a worry. Some sort of emotion must have shown on his face, but instead of accepting the kindness, he stepped back. "Sorry. It's alright if you do not want to talk about it."

"I am sorry. I... I don't think I'll ever use that one."

He couldn't hold her back.

"I am sorry, I'll have a look into these books."


At night, he had a hard time trying to be calm. Kota slept like always, Kingu sat next to him. He tried what he could to distract himself. The books Shino gave him earlier were so simple it was almost funny, he had the contents memorized in a matter of hours. Some of them at least.

Then he ran into one other book. He picked it up, opened it without really looking at the title, and... realized that this is literature. Kingu closed the book, flipped it around until he found the title: Catcher in the Rye.

After some consideration, he got into reading.


In comparison with yesterday, day 2 was rather uneventful. So boring that Kingu barely mentioned when the evening rolled around. Kota is taking a bath again, but this time he wants to try out the hot baths in the back. Shino asks Kingu to look after him, just in case. Kingu agrees. Why wouldn't he?

And so, that is how he found himself watching the kid splash around.

Kingu liked the book from yesterday and wondered whether there is something similar he could read once he is finished.

As that was happening, a commotion started somewhere in the changing rooms. The multiple voices told Kingu exactly what he needed to know and he sighed. UA students. The boys end up rushing in, some tripping which resulted in a much larger splash than what the place is built for.

Then... then the shrieks start.

A completely soaked head of one of the kids emerges from the water and looks at Kota surprised, then his eyes slowly move to Kingu.

His face turns the reddest shade of red possible.

"Dude, we got the wrong side!" "No way, this is the male side!"

He was not able to get out of the bath fast enough.

More frustrated head-scratching. Kingu throws his head backward and stares at the stars for a minute. There goes the peaceful evening. The mood is ruined. "Do you want to go?"

"Yeah, I guess."

Kingu gets up from his spot and helps Kota get out. All of the students have left. Almost.

Two of them were still present: a darker-haired kid and… the blond-haired guy who somehow managed to fall through the floor the other day, the darker-haired kid seemingly tried to pull him out of there, but with no success. He was still trying to do that but to no avail.

Kota ran ahead, leaving Kingu behind. Again.

Traitor.

"Do you need something?" He asked the blond as he stepped out of the bath. There was not much space on the outside so that meant that they were standing right next to each other. The blond looked down at him with wide surprised eyes before… "I knew it!"

"What?"

"You are not a girl!"

Kingu could have sworn that he heard someone or something shriek somewhere. Again. What is with humans shrieking so much all the damn time?

"Maaan, seriously. I told others that, but they never listen! Thank you for winning me a couple of bucks!" He rambled before patting Kingu on the back. "I am Mirio Togata! What is your name!"

"..." Kingu stares at him disinterested for a moment before just turning around and leaving.

"Call me Mirio okay!" He shouts after him as the door closes. "It was nice to meet you!"


Ughh... so I had trouble finishing this. I couldn't find a way to finish some parts and ended up scrapping 3 different versions. Then I stepped away and let the fic rest for a few weeks. I have made a good choice it seems because now the chapter pretty much wrote itself and I finally made a version that I like. Writing this made me realize that I kind of want to move onto parts when Kingu is not going to be an angry annoying brat that growls at everything that comes close to him.

This entire idea started with the thought that I wanted Enkidu in UA, but then I realized that there is no plot, Enkidu does not exactly have ways that he can grow... So then I made an OC but I was not happy. OCs are seriously hard to make. Then the Babylonia anime dropped and saw Kingu and decided, why not? The issue was still that Kingu is not the kind of person who would just go to UA... that is why there has to be loads of time for him to adjust and grow. So the first arc + this second arc have the main function of allowing Kingu to grow a bit.

I have been an Enkidu fan since before Babylonia dropped on JP. Btw, just got my Enkidu to bond 10.

(On JP, I got Caren while hoping for Dioscury and not sure how to feel about it since I have Buntoria + Santa Quetz and know next to nothing about Caren apart from the fact that she is from Hollow Ataraxia + she slaps people with money)

Then around September I finally got a kick to just stop writing for myself and publish something.

I am looking at you QueenRyu.

Good night, stay safe, leave a review.

Thank you for reading.