POV: Aria Akari
Nearly five hours had passed since we left the academy to begin our mission and as of now, it's the beginning of the afternoon.
The ride back to the academy was a rather peaceful one as everyone was silent with the exception of Arthur and Everett exchanging small talk occasionally, but the current atmosphere made sense as we all nearly lost our lives today as I looked towards Rai, who slept quietly on my shoulder.
Today's mission showed where I stand in the world.
Maybe it's because of my lack of awareness, but I had never imagined the reality of being a hero would be this demanding.
The mission was mentally taxing and although Ms. Jennifer healed me, I want nothing more than to go to my dorm and rest as my body feels absurdly heavy, despite me only healing Sarah for the majority of the mission.
As I am now, I don't think I could survive being a hero for a month, let alone a week.
I wonder…
Can I become as strong as you, Rai?
I don't know what kind of adversities you've faced in your lifetime, but the selflessness and courage you've displayed today was nothing less than admirable.
You seem to loathe heroes and yet, you have the greatest potential to become one.
It's kinda ironic, isn't it?
As I gazed at Rai, who slept soundly on my shoulder, I noticed that beneath his disheveled bangs, which rested across his forehead, was a face that was relatively handsome as his eyelashes were a tad longer than most males while his facial features were fairly sharp.
For someone whose Aspectual Force is as cold as a villain's, it's as if he's a completely different person when he's asleep.
"Aria."
It's strange.
"Aria~"
I was never interested in any other boy prior to Rai.
Some were far more popular while others were handsome in their own unique ways and yet, I can't seem to let go of my curiosity towards Rai-
"Aria!" Sarah shouted, startling me as I directed my attention towards them.
"Huh?" I asked, perturbed from the tone Sarah used towards me until I noticed Arthur staring at me with a smug expression as I felt my face burn with embarrassment from being caught gazing at Rai.
"Look, I swear I was-"
"It's alright, Aria. There's no need for you to lie to us about your feelings, although I was just calling your name earlier to ask you to wake up Rai since we're at the academy." Arthur said with a wry smile as his teasing vexed me, but as I sighed, I shook Rai softly in order to wake him up, however, Rai remained soundly asleep as his unresponsiveness left me concerned.
"He's not dead, right?" Everett asked as I began shaking him violently, but my actions were to no avail as Rai's slumber persisted, prompting a sense of unease within me as I started to believe Everett's words.
"He's just a deep sleeper. Let me have him." Arthur said as we all stepped outside of the car while Arthur grabbed Rai by his ragged hoodie.
"Wait Arthur-"
Arthur then dragged Rai's body carelessly out of the car and tossed him onto the academy grounds as several students began pacing themselves away from the scene out of fear of Arthur, whose face bore a large mischievous grin as he activated his Aspect and released his Aspectual Force before smashing his foot onto Rai's abdomen, who relished in his slumber as Arthur delayed his attack, struggling to contain his laughter as we all stared at him blankly.
"Arthur, I don't think Rai is going to appreciate you attacking him…" I advised, my voice trailing off as I turned to face Arthur, who was nowhere to be found as Ms. Jennifer began rubbing her temple in vexation from Arthur's childish behavior.
POV: Rai Shinsei
Awakening me was none other than a piercing pain within my abdomen as I immediately jolted into a sitting position, scanning my surroundings with urgency as I tried to anticipate Wrath's next move until my memories regathered themselves.
Where-
"Oh, he actually woke up." Everett remarked as Aria giggled at my confusion, prompting a sigh of relief as Sarah and Jennifer remained indifferent.
It seems I've made it back to the academy alive and by judging everyone's expressions, I'm assuming Arthur is also fine.
"What happened when I was unconscious?" I asked as I was unable to remember anything that happened right before I passed out.
"As we were escaping, you collapsed from the internal injuries you received in your fight against Wrath and in the moment you lost consciousness, Pride tried to kill you, but thankfully the Headmaster arrived just in time and defeated Pride, allowing us all to escape." Aria explained with a smile as I glanced at my body, which was fully healed despite my worn clothes.
"I see and I'm assuming you healed me?" I asked Jennifer, who nodded as I flexed my hand with a deep breath, testing the limits of Jennifer's healing abilities as I nearly experienced death and yet, it seemed as if I was in peak condition.
Her healing factor is the best I've ever seen.
Not only are my internal wounds fully healed, but there's not a single bruise, let alone a scratch on my body.
"What about the Seven Sins? Were they captured?" I asked curiously.
"You don't need to worry about that. Ryan just informed me that they were all captured and sent to the Central Jiyu Prison." Jennifer replied as I sighed with relief and fell onto my back, gazing into the cloudy blue sky as I pondered on the mission.
The Central Jiyu Prison is beneath the Hero Association, so escaping from there is basically impossible, although-
"You're naive, boy." Wrath said, his words echoing inside my mind as it was a constant reminder of my incompetence.
Once again, I struggled to let go of my past and because of my naivety, they almost lost their lives.
Sarah was right.
If I would have used my Aspect to begin with, Arthur and I could have easily defeated them.
Sarah's skull wouldn't have been bashed in.
Everett wouldn't have gone through a near-death experience.
Arthur wouldn't have been exhausted and Aria would have never been tormented.
They all suffered because of my indecisiveness, but I can't fixate on the past any longer as another problem has arised.
As I jumped to the ground, I faced the four of them as Everett and Aria looked at me with concern.
They now know of my Aspect.
If the entire academy becomes aware of my power, then that would lead to unnecessary troubles which is what I'm sure Ryan wants because I would then be forced to help this academy, but I refuse to change this dysfunctional academy for the sake of your own pleasure, Ryan.
I despise my Aspect and I don't plan on using it ever again until I graduate.
"Jennifer, I'm sure you already know what I'm requesting, so I need to ask the three of you for a favor." I said as the three of them awaited my response silently.
"I want you to keep my Aspect a secret. I'm not interested in this academy and if it wasn't for Ryan, I would have already abandoned this academy long ago. I truly despise the students within this academy, but you all are different. Aria, no matter the circumstances, do not ever lose sight of your light as your righteousness is certain to lead you on the path to surpass even your grandfather."
"Everett, you may be the weakest now, but I can assure you that with your potential, you can even surpass me, so don't give up and keep moving forward as you have the qualities of a hero." I remarked as Aria subtly blushed from validation while a determined light grew within Everett's eyes.
As for Sarah, I approached her and stood no further than a foot across from her as our eyes locked.
During our mission, I noticed it.
"What do you want?" Sarah asked, nettled by my presence alone and yet, she chose to remain silent as I gazed into her eyes, which was filled with uncertainty as she averted her eyes towards the ground, her submissive demeanor allowing me to deduce the fact that she was traumatized long before the mission.
Despite being ranked 74th within the academy, she was frightened… so frightened to the extent that it somehow even surpassed Everett's fear, who is supposed to be the weakest student in the entire academy, but it all makes sense now.
The mission may have traumatized her to some degree, but there's been a deeper trauma ingrained into her from long ago.
I know because "her" eyes were the same as Sarah's.
I'm certain Sarah was a victim of bullying at some point in her life, therefore, she clings onto Aria for protection and wears a mask to hide her insecurities, but despite her tragedies…
I'm still not very fond of her as her coping mechanism is to spread even more suffering, which is sickening.
If her life wasn't nearly lost at the hands of my naivety, I wouldn't even consider comforting her, but I also can't just ignore her as I would just be making the same mistake as I did in the past, such as avoiding responsibility.
"I'm sorry for not saving you earlier, but you faced the consequences for neglecting the severity of the mission, resulting in you receiving trauma, but despite your reckless actions during the mission or your bratty attitude, I truly hope that one day, you'll overcome your trauma and began taking the path of a hero more seriously as I want to believe that behind the mask you wear, lies a kind girl who genuinely cares for those around her." I said earnestly as I turned around and began heading towards my dormitory, where I seeked a long, warm shower as I had many things to think about regarding my future.
"Wait, Rai-" Aria called out, however, her calling was muffled as the many thoughts racing inside my mind blocked her out.
Arriving inside the dormitory, I noticed it was mostly empty as many first year students were still out on their missions.
Heading down the hallway where my room resided, I eventually slammed the side of my fist into the wall, accidentally knocking down a portrait of a young male with a scar stretching across the bridge of his nose as the impact created a fist-sized crater.
They're only students and yet, they had to suffer because of those bastards.
Three years.
Once I graduate from this academy in three years, I'm going to destroy the Hero Association.