Chapter 9: Discourse

Mandalore School

The wind blew across the skies, shifting clouds leisurely as trees shed their brown and shriveled leaves, discarding them in preparation for winter.

From below, at Mandalore School, the school was currently at its crucial pace before the results announcement for their finals.

Career paths and school selection.

"And so, keep in mind that there are other paths available for you all, such as being a support and equipment maker, business, or even marketing."

In 5-E class, a balding homeroom teacher in his suit explained the career paths available as he moved from the blackboard stiffly before plotting the numerous paths he just listed down in chalk.

Sigh

"Of course, I assume you all want to be heroes." He neutrally said even as the entire class rose upwards with excitement, filling the air with screams. Making him grip the chalk harder than necessary.

As If you all can. He looked at the numerous undisciplined students that lazed around, more interested in talking to one another as he handed the forms to them, papers distributed haphazardly and flung around even.

Hiroshi Uchiyamada, vice-principal of Mandalore School, only shook his head, hardly believing that such a prestigious school would be host to such delinquents. Why, the good name of this school is being besmirched by their very existence-

"Teacher? I'm done."

His eyes snapped up to meet with a familiar pink hair student with a blank stare, Uchiyamada had to restrain himself from grunting and put on a smile.

"Oh, Kurono Tatewaki? You're done? Let's see..." Examining the choices written, it made his eyebrow rise high enough that it would have disappeared into his hairline and lips going downwards.

Clearing his throat and looking at the student multiple times with a straining smile, he placed it down and gestured to the top of the choice list. "Are you sure that's your choice?"

A nod only further exaggerated his headache and he can feel blood-curdling upwards.

"T-That's quite ambitious, frankly, I think other options are more reasonable for you-" His eyes glanced downwards before realizing that other choices listed were equally ambitious.

"I wish to go there." A nonchalantly reply only further infuriates him.

You wish?! There are plenty of other far more deserving students that do anything to even have the CHANCE to get into U.A! Such a wishy-washy way of thinking is just- A vein formed at the top of his head as he felt his face reddened at such a statement.

"Merely wishing isn't going to help, you need to be dedicated to it." Uchiyamada calmly said after a few deep breaths, surely if he can convince him to go to another hero school. It'll help save Kurono's face. "After all, it's a very tough bar to be accepted for their entrance exam and we can't approve of anyone that simply wishes to go there."

"But I have the necessary average grades and curriculum for consideration?" Kurono tilted his head to the right, left hand holding his right arm.

Don't remind me. It felt like biting into a lemon as that fact was brought up. "But even so, are you sure? Think of your father."

And his reputation.

Kurono looked away to the sides briefly and tapped his fingers, thinking of an answer, muttering under his breath about being unable to handle it before he answered back.

"Because I made a promise to be there, and I want to help others," Kurono answered with his eyes meeting straight and less fidgeting.

"...Very well, I'll send it in. It'll come down to your final results, however." Sighing as he finally relented, accepting the paper and waved him away. "You're free to go now."

A quick bow from Kurono, and he made his way back. Some of the other students saw his presence and shied away from him fearfully and pulled their legs in. No one said a word as Kurono just packed his bag and left.

Almost simultaneously, everyone breathed easier the moment he exited the room.

It would've been amusing, if not for the fact that he, Uchiyamada, often was saddled with handling those disciplinary actions.

"Think he'll do it?"

"Guy's strong, a few screws loose for sure but he definitely could enter."

"Pah, I can't wait for him to get his ass kicked at the exam." One of them huffed loudly and bitterly as they folded their arms together.

"What's wrong? Your ass still smarting when he kicked you to the floor?"

"That was an accident, alright! I didn't expect him to be that heavy-"

"Alright, let's continue." Uchiyamada droned but the students continued arguing and ignored him completely. Sinking into his seat and looking at his watch, he's in for a long forty minutes.

Kurono Tatewaki strolled down the hallway, his arms going to the sides and posture straighter the moment he left the classroom.

Eyes not paying any particular attention as other students began to leave their classes. Though some of them balked when they saw him, stiffened and quietly shunted to the sides.

Sigh.

Their eyes went to the sides as the barely visible reflection of theirs appeared at the window hallways.

In contrast to what Kurono saw, the reflection of his was moving at a more sedentary pace and separately to their actual body. Holding their right arm with their left hand, and more focused on looking towards where their school gym was located.

Sorry for fucking your school experience up, Crona. Again. Kurono shared a glance at his reflection.

"It's okay." The moment they're addressed, Crona turns and brushes it away with a small smile on their lips. "I'm used to it."

The constant surge of anger, shame, regret, and annoyance from Kurono was enough for them to know they meant it and it was still felt even now.

It really shouldn't be this way. Kurono rubbed the back of his head annoyedly and frowned. Sure, circumstances regarding the villain attack and subsequent video hadn't exactly painted him in a good light…

But he still really wished he could've left Crona out of this miserable experience. No kid, let alone one like Crona, should experience this kind of bullying and isolation again.

Granted, Japan's way of bullying is a lot different than his school experience bullying.

"How so?"

Well, for one, I could just beat up most of my problems and they'll leave me. Nothing really escalates past that unless it's a gang problem, which is a whole different thing. Kurono regaled Crona eagerly, stopping in his tracks as he looked towards the school gate.

"Was it bad?" Crona inclined his head forward, not hearing much about Kurono's school experience in his past life and his brief stay at Death Academy hadn't told him much.

My school was once considered the worst in disciplinary problems in our town. A grin crept to the sides of Kurono's lips. Bitter pride and mirth came at those words.

Crona continued as he pointed out. "Oh, so there were lots of fights?"

Well, not all the time but yea. It's funny actually, I was also put into a similar class like this. Kurono this time eagerly told him as they moved into another hallway and down a staircase.

Delinquents, idiots, the bottom of the barrel, and there was me as well as my friends. I swear the only reason we were put into that class was to raise the average marks, I tell you. Kurono waved a hand of his upwards, moving at a much leisure pace as he regaled Crona stories about his school.

"How are your friends?"

Total idiots. Kurono giggled at that even as Crona was perplexed by that answer, unaware that other students that passed by him scoot faster or stared in a mix of horror and disbelief.

But they're what you call true friends, you know? The ones that you trust deeply, the ones that after fifty years, you can still call them and go out to have a drink regularly.

Kurono then sighed deeply as he put his hands into his pockets, even as his shoulders and head drooped. The story stopped there but Crona saw a wave of information, emotions, feelings, experience, and senses that he had never seen before rushed past them.

"They must be fun to be friends with. I hope I can have friends like that too." Crona conveyed back with a smile.

Of course you can, you got me. Kurono boasted as he pointed a thumb to himself.

"Kuro!"

Two arms swiftly engulfed him from the sides, and actively held themselves back from elbowing the interloper even as they were lifted centimeters off the ground.

"Yo." Kurono turned around to address her with a deadpan look, contrasted by Toga's ecstatic face and giggle as she put him down, brushed away her hair bangs as instead of the usual messy buns, her long hair was let downwards and allowed to flow past her shoulder.

Most of the fear he once had towards her is gone, mostly, since it was replaced with annoyance as she rubbed the top of his head.

How is it everyone hit their growth spurt, but not us? Kurono wondered indignantly as their eye level only reached up to her nose. A brief shudder and Crona took over, smiled at Toga, who only lit up even more when she saw them.

"Where's Ojiro?" Crona wondered as they're half-dragged by Toga, the latter humming happily away, ignoring the looks of everyone as they saw the two together.

"At the school gate, I went to get you first so we can meet him there-"

"Is she still with that creep?"

"Can't believe the gymnastic ace would be friends with someone like that."

A glance to the passing students who made that comment had Toga's eye twitching and smile dropping briefly.

Chika Abe and Tsunei Muramatsu of class 5-C, huh? Remembering the name and face clearly as she dug up any useful information before a mischievous smile formed as she swiftly turned around to face Kurono.

"Ne, Kuro, you applied for U.A, Shiketsu, and Jediah Academy, right?" She asked Kurono nonchalantly and sweetly. Purposefully raising her volume loud enough to be overheard.

"Yes?" Crona nodded at that, one of his eyebrows raised. It wasn't a secret by now since Kurono always said that aiming for U.A is a must.

"Ah hah! I knew it, same as me and Ojiro!" Clapping her hands together as she caught the two female students that had commented earlier about Kurono stopped to listen in the corner of her eyes.

"And guess what?" Toga shared a piece of news she intended only for their group, but this time, she was going to leave the last gift for the school she no longer has any interest in. "I was just told earlier that we'll be the only students heading there!"

That had nearly everyone within listening range turned their heads in disbelief and more than a few jaws dropped at that.

That's right, all of you have to acknowledge it. Toga actively refrained herself from laughing loudly even as she felt immensely proud of dropping this bomb on them.

"Oh, that's nice,"

"Isn't it?! Let's go celebrate!" Giggling, Toga quickened her steps as they left everyone behind. Giving a last glance behind her before smirking, enjoying their dumbfoundedness.

But for now, this was the best day for her.

Yutaparuh Park

A week later, their final results finally came in. All three of them had met or exceed the expected grades which further cemented their teacher's approval to go for the U.A entrance exam in

"Ah! It's finally over!" Toga excitedly said as she stretched her arm upwards, pushing back the red scarf wrapped around her neck.

"That excited to get into U.A, huh?" Ojiro pointed out as he walked next to Kurono, the former now nearly a head taller, as his tail rested on his shoulder. He brought up his fingers as they trembled shakily. "But I can't blame you, we're actually going there."

His childhood dream, all that pain, training, and time was now coming to fruition!

"Don't get too eager, we have to pass the exams first." Kurono pointed out before his head tilted to the right side, muttering quietly to themselves. "I hope we do, I don't think I can't handle it if we don't..."

Just as quickly as it came, Kurono snapped back as he raised a fist pump. "We will, all that unluckiness we experience this whole year, we'll turn it into at the last moment."

"Haha, that's reassuring." Ojiro laughed at his friend's antics as he noted the long, thin bag carried by Kurono. "By the way, why did you bring your shinai?"

"Cause it's mine," Kurono muttered as he held it protectively with his left hand, leaned away, and interposed his body between.

Shrugging, sighing, and rolling his eyes, Ojiro decided best to not pursue further. Knowing Kurono's way of thinking, it was either on a whim or because it's cool to do so.

Still, that Kurono joined the Kendo club was not surprising since he knew about their affinity to swords.

"By the way, how was your club farewell? Weren't you the ace and all?" Kurono changed the topic as he moved closer to his side.

"My juniors will do well, and I'm grateful for them despite me fumbling at the nationals…" Ojiro's mood dropped when he recalled that tournament, and he was so close to winning.

"Can't be helped, you couldn't use your tail and that guy was partly made out of metal." Kurono waved as he recalled that fight against Mazinger High. "How about you, Toga?"

"Ah, already did, it's not like it was important anyway." Toga said even as she hopped onto a railing and balanced herself using nothing but her toes with arms outstretched.

"Careful." Kurono quickly picked up the pace and walked slightly ahead of her before slowing down. "But why not? I thought you liked the club?"

"I did, but everyone just annoyed me," Toga spoke neutrally before jumping off the railing and landing right in front of Kurono, stopping them in their tracks.

"Ne, Kuro."

"Yes?"

Toga turned towards them, dropping her smiles as her eyes looked straight at them. "Why did you ask me to not talk about it?"

This again. Kurono sighed and shoulders sagged even as Crona felt the huge apprehension and weight of responsibility onto their shoulders.

Ojiro quietly stood behind them a few steps away, not expecting this but wasn't all too surprised either.

"I didn't want you to be bullied, Toga."

"And it was my fault." She emphasized by placing a hand on her chest, grey goo spurted out from her skin, covered, and quickly resettled itself into a perfect mirror image of Kurono's face.

"I was the one who stabbed the villain, I was the one who shouted die several times." Toga's disguise didn't stop there as she spoke with his speech in a pitch-perfect manner, this extended to her body language as she walked right up to him. "It should've been me and not you."

"I know," Kurono said as he brushed his hair backward, eyes closed for a moment before Crona gave his input. "But I wouldn't be able to handle it."

"And you think I can bear to see you like that?" Toga indignantly replied with a pained look and bite her lower lips.

"Toga, please, I didn't want you to-"

"Neither do I!" She finally burst out, swinging her arms to the side as she continued. "I can't stand it! They talked as if you're deranged!"

"As if you're not normal." Toga's shoulders sagged downwards as she pleaded to him.

"I rather be the one to be hated, I'm kind of used to it." Kurono opened his mouth as he remarked casually. "Besides, I'm not exactly normal."

That struck Toga as her face twisted in rage, teeth-gritting hard as she cannot believe it.

Was he really going to be like that?

"Are you saying I'm not normal?"

"That's not what I meant." Kurono's voice changed as he narrowed his eyes at that, left arm and fingers twitching as it tightened into a fist before unfurling multiple times.

"Then what do you mean?"

The edge of Ojiro's lips turned downwards as his eyes darted between the two uncomfortably as he quickly stepped in between the two. "What Toga is saying, you don't need to endure it alone."

"I have you guys." Kurono raised both of his arms at that, prompting Ojiro to sigh.

"That's not the point." Ojiro narrowed his eyes at that before deciding that subtlety wasn't helping in regards to Kurono. "I'll just give it to you straight then as a friend. You can't keep sheltering her forever."

Toga snapped her mouth shut at that, forcing herself to relax even as she dispelled her mask. Sloughing it off as she went back to her usual self.

"That's not-" Kurono protested but Ojiro wasn't having any of it.

"You always ensure nothing happens to her, any problems she stirred, you covered for her." Ojiro continued as he turned towards Toga as well. "Also, you're not helping. Every time someone said or did something bad to Kurono, that person had an 'accident' or an equal prank pulled back on them."

Toga's eyes narrowed as she glared at him hard enough to bore holes at that betrayal, contrasted by Kurono, his eyebrows rose in shock as he looked at her with a stunning look.

"Besides, it's done." Ojiro slapped the two of them in the back, pointing out the obvious and put a rest to the argument once and for all. "We're not going back there."

Kurono made a noncommittal grunt. "Hmm."

Toga flicked her hair backward and walked ahead of them though the moment the two took a step, she immediately spoke out without turning back. "Don't follow me."

Right now, she just wanted to be alone and quickened her steps. The moment she's far away, Toga looked around at the quiet and beautiful park as even the weather was perfect.

Clicking her tongue as she took a deep breath. Feeling a bit relieved after transforming her appearance as Kurono.

It wasn't being sheltered that made her so frustrated, if anything, she loved how much Kurono cared for her.

No, it was the world once again imposing itself, stifling their desire.

Play with the rules, everything is good but go against it…

Toga's eyes narrowed as her eyes went bloodshot, muscle tense, and fingernails bit into her palm.

Then from the corner of her eyes, she spotted a familiar off-beaten path. The short wire ornament meant to deter people and stay on the path was repaired but it was barely above her shin.

Shifting her foot and hopping over the ornaments, Toga moved towards the path. Bending and crouching low at times, pushing branches until she reached where she wanted.

The clearing was still there, smaller now and the trees were taller but most of the area remained the same. She smiled when she recalled the day they met, it still brought joy to her.

But comparing then and now, Toga can only sigh, knelt, and bury her head into her knees, hands run through her hair and she let her frustration show now that there's no one around.

It was rational, she admitted to herself. He takes the brunt of it, the achievement of him standing up and protecting others as well as being the son of a pro-hero shield him from the worst.

Yet if someone like Kurono was still treated like that despite all that, how is the fairness in that?

It made no sense, it didn't.

Blinking rapidly from her wet eyes and sniffing her nose, she coughed to clear her throat.

Or perhaps, it's because she was the reason for this happening in the first place and was just unable to turn the tides.

She only agreed to it because it was Kurono in the first place, and she will never refuse something from him.

But hearing Kurono saying that they weren't normal, even if it hadn't been meant for her, it still hurts.

"...Idiot."

U.A Academy

Nurse Office

"She hasn't spoken to you since?" A matronly voice said to the patient lying down on the bed.

A sigh emanated, rolling off the tongue as if it weighed heavily. Somehow managing to look like he sunk into the bed even deeper than usual. "Yea."

"Well, Kurono, you were quite insensitive." She cheerily teased.

"Not you too, granmama-Ow." Two fingers tapped onto the patient's forehead as Chiyo Shuzenji sat next to them on a stool before ruffling the former's pink hair aside.

"It may be childish and immature to think that way." Gently patting their head. "But you would also feel the same way if they're subjected to that kind of treatment, no?"

Being met with nothing but silence as it hung in the air, Chiyo continued with a smile. "You should be happy that they deeply care for you, even arguing with you as well."

"...But isn't an argument between friends terrible? I don't want us to argue, o-or even not be friends!" A much softer, unsure tone came.

Not escaping from her notice was Kurono grasping his right arm with the left hand.

"Sometimes, arguments can stem from care. It isn't odd to argue with one another from time to time." Chiyo words further deflated the latter spirit, giving a quick check to the equipment, the nearly filled blood bag, and proceeded to stop it. "Of course, some friendships can be broken because of it.

"But it's repairing, mending, and accepting one another's faults, then urging each other to be better." A quick splash of iodine to a swab of cotton pressed down on the skin tissue and then a light kiss to their cheeks. Her quirk revitalizes Kurono back to full health.

"That is what makes a strong friendship." She pinched his cheeks playfully even as she pulled out a lemon-flavored candy from her pocket. "Here."

"Thank you, granmama."

"Don't call me that," Chiyo harrumphed at that, quickly moving as she transferred the blood bags into a secure container for storage alongside many more stacked up together that nearly reached the ceiling. "It's embarrassing."

Kurono's head lowered, looking like a dog that had been kicked as they curled inwards. "O-Oh, sorry."

Chiyo could only roll her shoulders and close her eyes exhaustively at that. Trying to maintain her dignity before relenting as she locked the container, turned and sat next to Kurono.

"Call me grandmother instead, okay?"

That brightened their mood as Kurono nodded furiously at that with a small smile. "Okay, grandmother Chiyo."

Her heart warmed at that and felt like her family had grown even if they weren't related by blood.

Or perhaps, it was only natural for him to see me as a grandmother. Chiyo thought to herself as she recalled details on his family circumstances.

Ayuna and her family relationship were...strained to say the least if her story was true, and Kurogane was an orphan, his last living relative passed away before Kurono was born.

Well, she was not against the idea, particularly to the small young boy when they first met.

"There you go, you should smile more." Chiyo praised before realizing what she said and wished to withdraw her words.

True enough, the moment the words left her mouth, his smile faded immediately even as Kurono assumed a neutral face of neither smiling nor frowning.

Sighing inwardly, Chiyo can only shake their head at herself for making that mistake.

Whenever someone complimented their smile, Kurono would drop it intentionally. Even Ayuna couldn't understand why he was so self-conscious about it, it's not like Kurono dislikes smiling, only when someone points it out.

"You've prepared for the entrance exams?" She changed the topic. "It's a pity that you couldn't get into the recommendation exams"

"It's alright, the regular entrance exam is just fighting robots," Kurono muttered as he opened the lemon candy and popped it into his mouth, grimacing at the sour taste before settling into a much more content and relaxed look. "Not a problem."

"My, my, someone is quite confident," Chiyo replied cheerily, knowing full well the price of underestimating your opponents from her experience. "I can heal your body back up but not your pride."

"Well...if you're willing to give me some hints to the exam topics that may come out-" He tapped both fingers together as eyes looked to the sides.

Flick

"Ow!"

"Don't push your luck, boy." Chiyo admonished as she pokes Kurono right in the forehead with her syringe-shaped cane.