Ace sat at the back of the room, preparing for what seemed like another normal day as a student. At least, it would be normal until after school, when he had to meet with the principal. The meeting was inevitable after everything that had happened. He expected a stern talking-to for going off on his own and dealing with dangerous criminals, even with the best of intentions.

Glancing to his side, Ace saw Itsuka sitting nearby. He was very happy that she had come out of that whole ordeal unharmed. If she had been, he would of been really pissed at himself for not finding a way to keep an eye on her and not being able to protect her. He knew that he had to learn from this whole affair and figure out how to better fit into this world as he had promised he would.

As he sat there, his eyes looked over the board thinking about what they were going to do that day. He noticed that it said ethics talk, and report. Meaning it was just a paperwork day, nothing that they could do that would allow them to get out and get in any mock action trials as it were.

Ace's attention was grabbed by Vlad King who stood at the front of the room. Letting out a rough loud cough to get everyone's attention to him. Ace focused completely as it would seem this wasn't the chance he had to catch up with Itsuka, yet.

"Alright, class, listen up," he began, his voice firm but steady. "As the board says, the topic of today's lesson is about Morality. We will have a talk and then later you are going to write a report on it for your homework," Vlad said his tone serious as ever. " It is a fact, that every hero must confront at some point—morality. Now, I know most of you came here to learn how to fight villains, protect the innocent, and save lives. But being a hero isn't just about strength and skill. It's about making the right decisions when it counts."

Vlad paused a moment as he let his comments settle in with the students of the class before he would continue.

"Every single one of you will be faced with situations where the lines between right and wrong aren't always clear. You might have to make decisions that could have serious consequences—sometimes even for people you care about. This isn't a game. People's lives and their trust in you are on the line."

Vlad's gaze swept over the room, landing briefly on Ace and Itsuka. "Being strong isn't enough. You've got to be wise, too. And that means understanding the weight of your actions before you act."

He crossed his arms, his tone growing even more serious. "So today, we're going to talk about what it means to be a hero beyond just power. We're going to discuss the difficult choices, the sacrifices, and the responsibility you carry when you put on that costume."

"Because, remember—heroes don't just fight villains. They make the world a better place. And that starts with the choices you make when no one's watching."

Vlad King uncrossed his arms, looking around the room. "Let's begin."

Ace looked around the room for a second before he stood up to give his thoughts. "What about a world or situation where the government is wrong—where they're oppressive and harmful towards their own people? In that situation, say you have other groups—pirates, bandits, and revolutionaries—who are all fighting each other for glory, treasure, and their own ambitions. Is it even possible to have good and bad in such a situation?" Ace put forth as he stood there. "Personally, I'd argue that there could be good and bad pirates, government officials, and revolutionaries. It's not so black and white."

Vlad King looked at Ace thoughtfully, considering the complexity of his question. He let a moment of silence pass, allowing the weight of Ace's words to settle over the class.

"That is a most interesting point, and that is true in some place in this world now," Vlad said firmly as he looked at each student, "Any of you might have to go to one of those places. Deal with situations where the government is corrupt and the very institutions that are supposed to protect and serve the people are doing harm, the lines between good and bad can blur."

He began to pace slowly, his tone reflective. "In those cases, people like pirates or revolutionaries might rise up, not necessarily because they want chaos or treasure, but because they're trying to fight against something unjust. And in that fight, yes, there can be both good and bad on all sides."

"But here's where morality comes into play," Vlad continued, stopping to look at Ace directly. "It's not about which side you're on—government, pirate, revolutionary. It's about your actions. Now, even in these situations, it is your actions that will determine if you are in the right or wrong. It is your individual morality, and the wiliness to stand against what is wrong and protect the innocent people of the land or system that will take precedence in saying what type of person you are. Your actions even those which are not seen tell others who know what you stand for after all."

He crossed his arms again, addressing the whole class now. "Remember this please, everyone. There are a lot of challenging situations beyond your control, that each of you are going to have to face in your lives. The world isn't black and white as much as we would like it to be. There is a lot of unknown gray areas out there. However, no matter what the situation, you best think about the impact of your action, your reason for doing it and the effects your action will have on others. It's not just you and your fame or ranking."

Vlad King gave Ace a serious look. "So, yes, there can be good and bad in every group. But as a hero, your job is to keep your moral compass steady, even when the world around you is in chaos. You have to ask yourself: what are you fighting for? And how are you going to fight for it?"

He nodded toward Ace. "Good question, Ace. These are the kinds of things every hero should be thinking about."

Ace nodded, his usual laid-back demeanor slightly more serious as he took in Vlad's words. "Yeah… I get it. Thanks, Vlad." He sat back down, the weight of the discussion hanging in the air as the class continued.

Ace listened closely as the discussion unfolded, chiming in occasionally as the class examined different moral dilemmas and debated the right course of action in various scenarios. Though he took notes as best he could, Ace was the kind of person who learned by doing. It was clear that just writing things down wasn't enough for him. He had to feel the weight of the decisions and understand them on a deeper level through experience.

Throughout the lesson, Ace remained engaged, his usual carefree attitude tempered by the gravity of what they were discussing. The ordeal at the graveyard still lingered in his mind, reminding him of the importance of getting this right. He didn't want to waste his second chance—he'd promised to live differently, to figure out the right path in this new world.

As Vlad King continued to talk about moral dilemmas, difficult choices, and the gray areas that heroes often found themselves in, Ace paid close attention, absorbing as much as he could. He knew he needed to understand this if he was going to make good on his promise to live a better life this time around. Being a hero was more than just having power; it was about knowing when and how to use it—and that was something Ace was determined to figure out.

The lesson and the day went by pretty quickly, as they had mostly lectured, and were given writing to do that day before Ace, and Itsuka were called to meet with Nezu, along with them both MIrio, and Ryuichi were going to be there as well.

As Ace and Itsuka made their way to Nezu's office, the air felt heavier than usual. The gravity of the situation—everything that had gone down at the graveyard and the aftermath—was still fresh in everyone's mind. Ace had an uneasy feeling about what might be said during this meeting, but he kept his usual calm demeanor, glancing at Itsuka to see if she was doing alright. She seemed quiet, likely processing the events in her own way.

When they reached the office, they saw Mirio and Ryuichi approaching from different directions. Mirio, with his usual bright and optimistic energy, gave them both a nod as he arrived. Ryuichi, more composed and serious, didn't say much, but his eyes held a quiet understanding of the situation.

Ace exchanged a quick look with both of them. "Well, this should be fun," he muttered under his breath, trying to ease the tension with a small smile.

The four of them stood outside the door for a moment, knowing that the conversation inside was bound to address their recent actions—and likely the consequences.

The four of them walked into the office as Nezu looked at the four of them and waited for them to each take a seat. "Now first, Itsuka, are you okay?" he asked as he knew that she had been kidnapped. It was in the report that was written by Ryuichi about the situation and everything that happened. Ryuichi figured that the truth and being honest would get them in less trouble than if this was hidden away.

Itsuka nodded as she took her seat, her posture a little tense but her expression steady. "Yes, I'm okay now," she said, glancing briefly at the others before looking back at Nezu. "It was a rough situation, but I wasn't harmed, thanks to them."

Nezu's small frame leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes scanning each of the students. "Good to hear, Itsuka. That's the most important thing. But let's not forget the larger issue here. The four of you went up against dangerous villains without any official backup. And while I understand the instinct to protect your friends, there are protocols for a reason."

He turned his attention to Ryuichi, "Ryuichi, I appreciate your honesty in the report. It's important that we have a clear picture of what happened. But stepping into a dangerous situation like that without consulting any of the pro heroes—well, that's a serious matter."

Ace shifted slightly in his seat; his usual easy-going attitude tempered by the weight of the conversation. He knew they had done the right thing in saving Itsuka, but he also understood that Nezu wasn't just going to let them off easily. He met the principal's gaze, ready to accept whatever was coming but still hoping to explain their side of things.

Mirio, sitting next to Ace, was the first to speak. "We didn't make the decision lightly, Nezu. But when we found out Itsuka was in danger, we couldn't just wait around. We knew the risks, but we were confident we could handle it." He paused, his usual upbeat tone softened by the seriousness of the situation.

Nezu nodded thoughtfully but didn't respond immediately, clearly weighing his next words carefully.

"Yes, we should have gone in the first time with backup and told you we were looking into the urban myth, it just turns out after we figure out that it wasn't just a myth, we got too wrapped up into everything and things went sideways. It was my mistake," Ace commented, "I just had to help a friend, and I thought about that first before anything else," he added as he wasn't used to backup. Ace was used to doing what he needed to do, and thinking about asking for permission later.

Nezu listened to Ace's words carefully, his sharp eyes narrowing just a bit as he processed the confession. "Ace, I understand your instinct to protect your friends," he began, his voice calm but firm. " However, being a hero isn't about acting in the spur of the moment to do what you think is right. You might be right this time, but in the future times. Well, if you depend upon only your gut it can lead you into situations where you are twisted to do things you shouldn't. Because of that, I can't excuse the risk that you took in this incident."

Nezu's gaze softened slightly, recognizing the sincerity in Ace's explanation. "It's clear you're not used to relying on others or waiting for backup. But that's something you're going to have to learn, especially in this world. Being a hero means recognizing that you can't do it all alone, and sometimes waiting for support can save lives, even if it feels like you're losing time."

Ryuichi nodded, looking over at Ace. "We were all in that mindset, though. We acted because we didn't want to lose Itsuka or let things get worse. But we should've coordinated better, and that's on all of us."

Mirio chimed in, his usual upbeat tone now more somber. "Nezu, we know we made mistakes. But we also learned a lot from this experience. We won't let it happen again. We'll be smarter, and we'll make sure we're following the right procedures next time."

Nezu looked at the four of them for a moment and then leaned back in his chair for a second his paws pressing against each other as he thought. "Now, I know that you had good intentions, noble ones in fact. I believe that you also have learned a lot form this whole situation. However, I can't let you go free. As there are consequences for actions. However, I am not going to throw the book at you. I believe that the punishment should fit the crime."

Nezu again looked at each of them in turn, as he looked at their reactions. "For the next two weeks, you will all be restricted from any fieldwork. No unauthorized hero activities outside of school-sanctioned missions. This is to remind you that even heroes must follow protocol."

Ace nodded, accepting the decision. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, and he knew Nezu was being fair. Itsuka, Mirio, and Ryuichi all seemed to be in agreement, understanding that the restriction was part of the learning process.

"Take this time to reflect," Nezu added, "and use it to grow. I believe in all of you, but you must understand that being a hero is more than just fighting villains. It's about making the right decisions when the stakes are highest."

Ace looked at Nezu and then at his friends before nodding again. "Understood, Principal Nezu. We won't let this happen again."