POV: Rai Shinsei
So she's in my class also.
What a strange coincidence.
I shifted my gaze back to the window on my left and began staring out the window as I watched the petals from the vibrant cherry blossom trees dance gracefully throughout the air while I daydreamed about nonsense.
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" A soft voice said from my right as I turned around to find out it was from none other than the girl from the Akari family.
"They're quite pleasant to look at." I replied nonchalantly while I noticed Arthur entering inside the classroom as we exchanged glances.
I wonder…
"Hey, how much do you know about Arthur?" I asked curiously as the girl's eyes widened in surprise.
"You know Arthur?" She asked.
"He's my roommate." I replied.
"I see. Most students wanted to avoid sharing a room with him since they think he's just a cold hearted monster because of his father, but the reality is that he's a normal teenager just like the rest of us, so I don't think it's right to treat him like an outcast, despite his power." The girl stated with sympathy laced in her tone as the two of us watched Arthur, who was scrolling mindlessly on his phone with his legs kicked up on his desk.
I don't disagree with what she's saying, but a sixteen year old who is more powerful than almost every student in this academy without any noble blood running through their veins is bound to be an anomaly.
"Although, if I remember correctly, there were rumors of Arthur sparring with Mr. Jack, who is the teacher of Class 1C and an A-Class hero around the beginning of the school year and from what I heard was that they were fairly even." The girl added as I glanced at Arthur, who stood from his desk and left the classroom yawning.
The Hero Association is ranked with several categories.
Joseph, the strongest hero in Jiyu and the current leader of the Hero Association.
The Grand Four, which are the top four strongest heroes in Jiyu, beneath Joseph.
The Executives, which are the top fifteen strongest heroes, beneath the Grand Four.
Then there's the rest of the heroes, who can be ranked from F-Class to S-Class, with F-Class being the lowest and S-Class being the highest.
The average hero in Jiyu is C-Class and yet, Arthur is as strong as an A-Class hero at the mere age of sixteen.
I can't even imagine what kind of training he went through just to achieve that level of strength.
After I sighed, I shifted my eyes towards the girl, who began conversing with one of her friends on her right as they grabbed her attention.
I assumed this girl was full of herself since she's from the Akari family, but it's comforting to know that she's kindhearted and genuinely cares for others.
As I was about to stare out the window once more, I noticed three students entering inside the classroom as they scanned the classroom until I locked eyes with the leader of the group, whose eyebrows furrowed as irritation began to grow on his face.
Someone doesn't seem to be too happy.
POV: Arthur Kojiro
After using the bathroom, I headed back to my classroom with an absurd walk as I sighed from boredom.
What's the point of me coming to class?
The teacher repeats the same thing everyday like a broken record.
Should I just skip class today?
As I arrived inside the classroom, I noticed three students that weren't from our class approaching Rai as several students whispered among themselves.
Do they know Rai?
I walked towards Everett, who had bandages wrapped around his fingers and wrist with a large bandage covering a bruise on his cheek.
"Hey Everett, do you know what's going on?" I asked curiously, interrupting his conversation between him and his friend Jeffery as the two of them looked at me nervously.
"A-Arthur! I'm not too sure myself, but if I had to take a guess, I would assume that it's because Rai defeated Jordan and his friends earlier." Everett replied as I glanced at Rai, who was unfazed by the three student's intimidation tactic.
"I see. What was his Aspect?" I asked.
"Oh, uh, Rai didn't use his Aspect. He defeated Jordan and his friends without it." Everett replied as his response left me surprised.
Rai defeated Jordan without an Aspect?
Defeating Jordan isn't an impressive feat, but for someone who is ranked 200th in the academy, defeating a mid-ranker without using an Aspectis unheard of.
I knew there was something off about him.
"Thanks Everett." I replied with a grin, placing my hand on his shoulder as a gesture of gratitude before shifting my eyes towards Jacob, who was glaring down at Rai with a vexed expression.
Now it makes sense why they're here.
Jordan is Jacob's best friend and they're both leaders of Zayn's faction, although…
Jacob is only one rank higher than Jordan, meaning that their strength is relatively the same, so why is he trying to pick a fight with someone who could defeat them effortlessly?
The three students were Jacob, April and Oscar of Class-1C
Jacob towered over Rai by a few inches with a physique that rivaled one of a professional athlete's.
He had a chestnut complexion with a clean buzzcut and lazy black eyes, but as for his attire, it was your standard school uniform with the exception of a gray blazer as his white long-sleeved dress shirt was tailored short-sleeved instead.
The other two stood an inch shorter than Rai as April had a golden complexion with long straightened hair that was tied neatly into a thin ponytail and sharp brown eyes while her attire consisted of your standard school uniform.
As for Oscar, he had a beige complexion with dark green hair that was slickly combed back and dull green eyes as his attire was also your standard school uniform.
"Are you sure he's the one who defeated Jordan? If I'm being honest, he doesn't look like much." Jacob asked as Oscar looked at a text on his phone while April obnoxiously chewed on her bubble gum.
"Jordan said the boy was a new student with messy black hair and unique blue eyes." Oscar replied as April popped a bubble with her gum."
"Well I have to admit, his eyes are quite unique. They remind me of the sky." April remarked as Jacob clicked his tongue.
"I'm glad you like his eyes, April, but that doesn't answer my damn question! There's several students with black hair and blue eyes, so how in the hell do I know if he's the one or not?! Dammit Jordan, can you be any more useless?!" Jacob chastised as he rubbed through his hair in frustration.
Despite being confronted by three students who are mid-rankers, he's unusually calm for someone who is ranked 200th.
Jacob then sharpened his eyes at Rai in an attempt to intimidate him once more and yet, Rai remained unfazed as his poised demeanor further agitated Jacob.
"Who gave you the right to look at me like that?!" Jacob asked, vexed from Rai's lack of fear as he slammed Rai's head into the desk while the rest of the class gradually became quiet.
"All I need you to do is answer my questions and then you can enjoy the rest of your day for all I care. I'm not interested in somebody as weak as yourself." Jacob added as he released his hand from Rai's head.
"You know, that's not a nice way to ask questions." Rai replied sarcastically with a smile as he looked up at Jacob, who fell for Rai's provocation as he gritted his teeth.
"You think I'm a joke?!" Jacob asked as he activated his Aspect, releasing his Aspectual Force in the midst as he kicked Rai in his chest, sending him tumbling backwards out of his chair until he landed against the back wall of the classroom, but despite the imminent threat looming upon him, Rai's hands remained inside his pockets as he kept his composure.
"I'm not soft like Jordan. I don't care who you are, you WILL SHOW ME RESPECT!" Jacob bellowed as he approached Rai, who bursted out laughing as his blatant disrespect provoked Jacob's anger even further.
"I'm sorry! I can't take you seriously when you're having a temper tantrum because someone won't acknowledge you!" Rai replied while wiping tears from his eyes as Jacob began seething with rage, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip as he coated his fist with aura.
What an interesting guy!
Jacob then picked up Rai by the collar of his shirt and began thrashing his fist into his face relentlessly as Rai remained still and endured Jacob's attack.
A minute passed until Jacob released his grasp of Rai's collar and stomped Rai's head into the wall with force, creating a small crater from the impact as Rai wiped the blood trickling from his nose, ignoring Jacob's existence as his obvious provocation left Jacob enraged.
Alright Jacob, it's time for you to go back to your class.
As I placed my hand on the handle of one of my swords with the intention of stepping in and ending Jacob's assault, I felt a spine-chilling sensation as I locked eyes with Rai, who glanced at me coldly as I understood the message he wanted to convey within a split-second.
I see.
"IT'S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE, IS IT?!" Jacob asked, relishing in his dominance as he tried to stomp Rai's head into the wall once more, however, cold sweat erupted across his skin as Aria activated her Aspect and released her Aspectual Force.
"That's enough, Jacob!" Aria ordered sternly as Jacob clicked his tongue in frustration.
Eventually succumbing to Aria's power, he shot a glare at Rai once more, but despite all of his attempts of intimidation, Rai's expression didn't falter once as he gave Jacob a condescending smile.
"For your own sake, you better pray we don't cross paths ever again." Jacob threatened as he turned around and headed towards the exit, kicking a trash can in frustration along the way out as he deactivated his Aspect in the midst while Oscar and April followed behind him.
There was a moment of silence within the classroom until Aria approached Rai and offered to heal him, however, he declined her offer as he stood from the ground and began stretching his arms before wiping off the excess blood on his face.
"I appreciate your offer, but if you heal me, then I won't have an excuse to skip class." Rai said with a smile as he headed towards the exit while several students began whispering among one another.
"Mind if I tag along?" I asked with a grin as Rai sighed with a smile.
"Sure." Rai replied as we left the classroom and headed towards the infirmary, which was also located on the first floor of the academy.
"You could have defeated Jacob if you wanted to, so why did you let him walk over you?" I asked curiously.
"You're wrong. Jacob's Aspect and raw power far surpasses my own. There's no way I could have won against Jacob." Rai replied with a yawn as I chuckled at his obvious lie.
"An interesting response from someone who claims to be so weak and yet, they're able to move around completely fine after being pummeled by someone who is ranked 61st in the academy." I said as Rai smiled at my deduction while we approached the infirmary.
"You're overestimating me." Rai replied while he headed inside the infirmary as the two of us parted ways.
POV: Aria Akari
After Rai left the classroom along with Arthur, many students within the classroom began discussing the aftermath of Jacob's intrusion as I overheard several students traduce Rai's name, which irked me as I couldn't understand how someone could resort to bad-mouthing another behind their back when they know nothing about them.
"He's pretty weak, isn't he?"
"I saw his fight against Jordan and it seems like he was just lucky."
"I'm sure he was just laughing to hide his fear from Jacob, otherwise, he would have fought back, right?"
As Jacob's recent intrusion was the main topic among the classroom, I recalled the moment before Jacob began assaulting Rai as I felt guilt flooding my conscious for not stepping in sooner to help him.
~
"Hey." Rai called out, prompting me to direct my attention towards him as I noticed three students from Class-1C approaching us.
What are they doing here?
"I'm certain that those three are here to get revenge for what I did to their friends, so can I ask you a favor?" Rai asked as his calm composure, despite the current situation left me startled as I mindlessly nodded, wondering if he understood the words that came from his mouth.
I don't know why he's so calm, but surely he's going to ask me for help-
"Don't intervene at all." Rai said as I was left puzzled, struggling to utter a single word as the three students stood before him.
~
No matter how many times I think over it, his actions don't make any sense.
Why would he tell me not to intervene?
He doesn't seem like a pacifist since he continued to provoke Jacob, but I don't want to believe he's a masochist either, so why would he allow Jacob to beat him senseless?!
I watched him defeat Jordan and his friends with relative ease, so if he wanted to, he could have at least held his own against Jacob and his friends, so why did he choose to remain passive?!
Not to mention he even refused my offer to heal him!
Even if he has a high pain tolerance, he must have been experiencing some kind of pain at the very least, so even if he wanted to use the infirmary as an excuse to skip class, why would he reject my offer and allow himself to be in pain?!
Maybe he is a masochist-
"Aria, is that boy on your mind?" Sarah, my best friend since my days in junior high asked as the wording of her question left me flustered.
"What-"
"I'm glad Jacob pummeled that boy. Who in their right mind would refuse to be healed by you? That ungrateful bastard is lucky that you even offered to heal him." Jacqueline, a friend I made at the beginning of this school year, rebuked as Sarah agreed.
"I'm sure he had his reasons, so there's no need to be harsh towards him." I replied as Sarah clicked her tongue in annoyance while Jacqueline sighed.
He saved Everett today, so hearing everyone talk badly about him doesn't sit right with me.
He's not a bad person, at least from my perspective.
POV: Rylie Fuchai
I've been a teacher at this academy for a few years now and being that it is a prestigious hero academy that fosters the greatest talents of our continent, there was always a bad habit of mine that I've had ever since my first day teaching here.
Not being able to wake up on time.
Everyday for years, I never made it on time, but today was a special day because I miraculously woke up early and as I headed to my class to start the day early in a passionate mood, I noticed two students talking among each other within the hallway.
One of them was none other than Arthur Kojiro, one of my problem students who never listens to anything I have to say, but despite his egotistical attitude, he's a genius nonetheless and because of his rank, Ryan allowed him to skip my class with the exception of exams and because Arthur is roaming the hallways instead of my classroom, that means that I won't have to deal with him today.
Not only did I finally wake up early, but I don't have to deal with that problem child either!
What a wonderful day it is!
As I relished in my own happiness, the student Arthur was conversing with was fairly injured with a bloodied nose and minor scratches across his face, but as I observed him, I was unable to recognize the student as I eventually shrugged it off and continued humming to myself as I approached my classroom.
Well, that boy is none of my concern anyways.
As I entered inside my classroom with a bright smile, it was quickly replaced with a frown as I noticed a small head-sized crater on the back wall of my classroom while the empty desk and chair beside Aria was flipped over.
"I'm surprised you're here this early, Ms. Rylie." Isen, one of my students mentioned as my mouth was agape from examining the havoc wreaked upon my classroom.
I've already suffered too many pay cuts because of my attendance and now you're telling me I have to pay for vandalism?
"Why is my classroom a mess?!" I cried out, collapsing onto my knees as tears began to flow from my eyes while several students came to comfort my distress.