What Makes A Hero?
After about two weeks of starting school everyone started to get into the groove of their new routines. Our new group of students basically rotated between learning the fundamentals of hero work from Jack and were put through the wringer with rigorous training with Zari.
It is now the beginning of the third week and the new students are currently sitting in Jack’s class.
“So, if you were all by yourself and you had to pick between fighting a villain and saving a few civilians, which would you choose?”
“Beat up the bad guys of course! Any reason to fight is a good one if you ask me.” Maka blurts out without raising her hand.
“...Anyone else have an answer…”
Violet raises her hand.
“Yes. Violet.”
“Save the civilians of course. If you know for a fact that you can’t defeat a villain because they are too strong, you should get anyone who can’t fight for themselves out of harm's way as quickly as possible.”
“What if you aren’t fast enough and the villain catches up to you?”
“Then...you should…fight the villain. If the villain is currently pursuing the civilians then in this situation defending them would be your only choice.”
“Anybody else have an answer?”
Candi raises her hand. “Why not both?”
“What?”
“Why not…do both at the same time. With my super speed, taking on the baddies and saving the people should be a piece of cake…now I want some cake…” Candi says while rubbing her stomach.
Lev raises his hand.
“Yes.” Jack says stoically.
“...I…I think that…there is no correct answer…this is just a thought experiment to test us on. The answer to that question is impossible because it would change on a case to case basis. With all of that being said, even if the situation is hypothetical, this is why you need to work together as a team. If you have friends that you can closely rely on to help in your or others' time of need then something like this shouldn’t happen.”
Jack rubs the back of his head. “Eh…you’re kind of right, but what if you did have your friends with you and the villain just killed them all. What then.”
Lev is stunned. He thought that he gave the correct answer for sure, but it didn’t even occur to him that this would be a possibility.
“Why would you say such a thing?!” Ash says while slamming his hands on his desk and quickly standing up.
Jack, as stoic as ever, glances towards Ash. The rest of the class is dead silent.
“In that situation there is only one answer. Make the bad guy regret that decision. If you kill one of my friends then you might as well just be killing me because I don’t even want to think about living in a world where such a thing can happen!”
Jack lets out a large sigh. “Ash, I don’t want to argue with you. I am just stating all the possibilities.”
“If I were there I wouldn’t let that happen. I won’t allow it!”
“No matter how much willpower you have, there are some situations that you just can’t win no matter how hard you try.”
Jack turns back towards the rest of the class.
“You know what Lev. You gave a good answer, but there isn’t a correct answer here. I just wanted to give you all something to think about. In the business that we are in things like this unfortunately happen all of the time. Villains kill heroes, other villains for the pettiest of reasons you can imagine, and even civilians. With that being said the only true solution here would be to become as strong as you possibly can. Sure. There isn’t a 100% solution here no matter what, but the stronger you get the higher your odds are at the very least. Don’t underestimate your opponents, but also don’t underestimate yourselves. You are all good kids and I see great potential in all of you.”
After a moment of silence Jack puts his hand over his face.
“Blech…So sweet and saccharine. Where did that come from?
“Awww!” Candi has a huge smile on her face. “Maybe my kindness is rubbing off on you after all!”
“...Nope…that’s not it. Class dismissed.”
“You know I'm right!” Candi says with her tongue sticking out.”
“Goodbye. See you all tomorrow.” Jack says as he immediately leaves the classroom. “Stay here if you want to stay here until then. I’m locking the door.”
“WHAT!?!”
All the students rush towards the door to avoid the possibility of that happening.
As everyone is walking towards Zari’s gym an interesting conversation occurs.
“Ash!” Maka yells.
“Uh…What’s up?”
“You know what’s up! That was badass!”
“...Thank you…I guess…”
Violet walks right up to Ash. “You know what. I agree with Maka for once.”
“The Hell did you say?!?” Maka screams towards Violet with an exaggerated scowl.
“My apologies. I didn’t mean it as an insult.”
“...Whatever…” Maka says after she shoves her hands in her pockets.
“I do mean what I said though Ash.” Violet continues. “Such dedication to one’s friends is quite the admirable character trait. Anyone would be lucky to have you as one.”
Ash is rubbing the back of his head with a huge blush on his face. “Ah. Stop it. You know complimenting me won’t get you anywhere.”
This is a lie.
Candi puts her arms around Ash and Lev’s necks.
“I knew it! I knew I became friends with you guys for a reason! It must be fate!” Candi says with stars in her eyes.
“...Uh…Thank you…Candi…” Lev says with a quiet voice and a small blush on his face.
Lev now turns towards Ash.
“...Don’t…Don’t be modest…You deserve every word of this. I’m…glad to consider you my friend as well…” Lev says with a tiny smile.
Candi extends her arms out and pulls Violet and Maka into the hug as well.
“Hey! What the Hell!” Maka yells.
“Unhand me this instant!” Violet quickly follows.
“Nah! I’m good!” Candi says while beaming. “Just happy to be surrounded by so many good friends!”
“Hey! I didn’t say we were friends!” Maka yells.
“Too late! You’re all my best friends now!”
“...Dammit…” Maka whispers and just leans into the others with a small blush on her face.
Walking a distance away from the rest of the group, Calder just stares at the others with the same constant smirk that he always has.
“Well. This year is going to be interesting. That is for sure.”
“Class! Stand straight and listen up!” Zari Xango says to her students. “Y’all seem to be getting used to my training methods. I never thought I’d see the day…well…at least not this quickly…”
“...So…” Ash speaks up. “Are you saying that we pass…”
“Hahaha!!!” Zari cries from laughing too hard. “No! Not even close!”
“...But…then what were you talking about?”
“Oh…All I was going to say is that I think you guys are gonna be ready a little earlier than usual for this semester.”
“My apologies Miss Xango, but what in the heavens could you be referring to?” Violet asks inquisitively.
“What I’m saying is that I think that y’all are ready to fight…the students from another class!”
“...What…” Lev raises his voice slightly above a whisper. “...Isn’t…Isn’t that too soon…”
“Hell no!” Zari shouts enthusiastically. “I think that you all are plenty ready for this!”
“...I don’t agree…” Lev responds.
“Sorry! My mind is made up!” Zari turns her head and yells towards a door on the other side of the gym. “You can all come in now!”
Just a moment after she said this a group of six students entered the gym.
“Let me introduce you to the other first year students.” Zari announces. “As I point towards y’all I want to hear an introduction. Starting with you.”
She points towards the first student standing in the row. He is wearing a white ghutra and a white shirt with a purple jacket. He also has purple hair.
“My name is Zahid Zahir. I look forward to sparring with you.” He says with his arms crossed and a blank expression.
She then points to a girl with a white gi and long white hair with red highlights.
“Hello!” She says with a quick bow.
“My name is Shiro Long. Pleasure to meet you all!” Shiro says with a big smirk on her face.
Next up is a guy with long green hair on one side of his head with the other side completely shaved off, he also has a goatee. He is wearing a black gi and green pants.
He also currently has headphones in and hasn’t heard a word that Zari said.
“Hey punk! Listen up!” Zari says as she throws her megaphone at him.
He glances over and quickly catches it. “I’m sorry Miss Z. I wasn’t listening. Do you want this back?” He says nonchalantly.
“Well. You better listen up for the rest of class. Otherwise you are going to detention.”
“Loud and clear.” He says with a smirk.
“Now introduce yourself. We don’t have all day.”
“Aight. The name's Takeru Takao.”
“...Is that all you have to say for yourself?” Zari questions.
“Yep.”
“...Moving along then…”
After that is a girl with long black hair that goes over one of her eyes. She is wearing a leather jacket with a purple undershirt and a black skirt. She is also holding a black a purple teddy bear that is covered in stitches.
“...Hey Poe…” She says to her bear. “It looks like we’re about to make a lot of new friends…”
“Stop being creepy and just introduce yourself.” Zari says with a palm on her face.
“They call me Samara McNeil.” She then holds up her teddy bear. “And this cute little guy is Poe. Say hi to your new friends, Poe.”
She has a slightly more husky yet silly voice. “Hello new friends. It is beary nice to meet you!” She is waving Poe's hand while saying this.
“Awesome!” Candi yells. “A teddy bear that talks! That is one of the cutest things that I have ever seen!”
“Can it Candi!” Zari yells.
“Sorry Miss Z.”
“Let’s get this over with.”
Next is a person who has big, curly shoulder length black hair, a red tank top, long sleeves with big holes on the shoulders, and black pants. Their entire outfit is covered in zippers.
“Oh, hello! Aren’t you a cute bunch.” They say while licking their lips.
“My name is Zypp Sunbeck. They/them pronouns please.” They say while giving a suggestive wink.
“Let’s finally get this over with.”
Last, but certainly not least, we have a chubby yet muscular girl with long black hair and purple highlights. She is wearing a white shirt with an open black gi with the sleeves cut off, and is wearing black shorts.
She swings one of her legs high up in the air and lets it down with a powerful sumo stomp.
“Hey.” She says as she cracks her knuckles.
“The name’s Ori Sawano. Who wants to get knocked out first?” She says with a cocky grin.
“Alright. Wait for your fight Ori.” Zari says impatiently. “Now, I will give you all about an hour to get to know each other, but then we are going to be holding a sparring session. Each of you will fight someone from the other class.”
“If y’all can excuse me for a moment. I need to go make the bracket. Just mingle until I’m done, aight.”
So, in year one class one we have Ash Burns, Calder McHail, Candi Kane, Lev Hart, Maka Sharktooth, and Violet Newton.
In year one class two we have Zahid Zahir, Shiro Long, Takeru Takao, Samara McNeil, Zypp Sunbeck, and Ori Sawano.