"Good morning class," Zantos said with a short glare. "I believe you're all done with the assignments I gave you?"
Liam held back his smile as he sent a report on the "Ecological Niche Of The Umbriel Mo" from his CID, to his desk, to the teacher's podium. Groans, whispers, and a few curses filled the air as his classmates began to send theirs.
It was pretty surprising when Sir Zantos gave us punishment homework, Liam thought as he lowered his head onto his desk. Most of them were pretty pissed off.
Liam recalled how funny his classmates' expressions had been, then frowned as the memory of how half of them had strong-armed him into helping them out.
He groaned in embarrassment. "Why am I such a pushover?"
"Psst, Liam!"
The boy in question rose his head, and Lisa, along with most of the class, gave him a smile and a thumbs up.
... So maybe it isn't that bad, he nodded absentmindedly as his mind went back to the previous day's events.
****
"First of all, we need to address the hostility the Hero Class has towards us," Raidou began.
Lisa rubbed her cheek, as if recalling Sam's punches. "Yeah, we need to deal with that."
"The foremost problem," Raidou continued as he shot a glance towards Kazumi, "Is the fact that we were the ones who responded. It puts us all in a really bad position, whether you were a part of it or—"
"What the hell does that mean?!"
Everyone turned round to look at the person who spoke. He was tall and well built, and a vein throbbed in his forehead. However, his angry expression did not diminish his incredible good looks in the slightest.
His well-styled blonde hair seemed to glow under the lights of the Crucible, bringing out his equally bright, hooded, sapphire-blue eyes. He possessed high cheekbones, a strong looking jaw, and smooth white skin.
Even a few boys would have been struck by his visage.
That is, if he was in a better state of mind.
"Why the hell do I have to take the fall for your incompetence?!" he yelled again. "You can forget about me helping you out; none of you have the wisdom to avoid unnecessary conflict!"
"Who is that?" Liam whispered.
"Jason Wing," Lisa whispered back. "I kinda thought he was cute and an overall laidback person, but looks like I wasn't exactly right."
"Um, no offense Jason, but aren't you kinda starting unnecessary conflict?"
Everyone's heads swiveled over to Nanami, a few trying to hold back their smiles.
Jason raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. "What? My argument's perfectly valid."
Raidou stepped forward. "That may be so, but that doesn't mean you can just cut the meeting off."
Jason scoffed. "And who says I can't? Freedom of expression exists you know. You can't really stop me."
Raidou put a few fingers on his forehead with a sigh. "Jason, stop acting out. If you're done, can I get back to the meeting?"
Jason smirked. "Of course. But if you think I'm going to obey your every word, think again you little torch. This isn't your Clan."
Raidou kept silent, glaring at Jason's smug expression for a brief moment before turning away.
"Whatever. I'm not going to concern myself with you. Whine all you want."
Jason chuckled."Is the scion of the Raidou Clan being petty?"
Raidou ignored him and picked up his interrupted topic almost immediately.
"As I was saying, since we are the ones who initiated contact, regardless of whether you were present or not, we have and will be punished. If you understand that, we will now move on to the major problem: you, Kazumi."
Liam covered his hand and whispered: "Damn. Raidou's pretty cool."
Lisa nodded. "Yeah, but that Jason guy was annoyingly good at poking him. I wouldn't put it past a guy like that to be used to facing off against people."
Liam turned his head to her in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"He provoked Raidou after getting the entire class' attention. It's like a little social trap; if Raidou had fallen for the bait, Jason could have used the chance to start actively rebelling against his authority."
Liam blinked in surprise. "Really? Huh... since when have you thought like this?"
"My Dad coached me a little on people-politics, since he's a businessman and all."
"Hmm..." Liam nodded as his hand attached itself to his chin.
Kazumi shrugged at Raidou's words. "I don't see what I did wrong. The other side asked for a fight. I responded. I won. Despite that we got punished according to the school's rules. Although..."
Kazumi narrowed his eyes at Raidou.
"There is nothing stopping me from ever responding to a provocation if I want to respond."
The ensuing tension in the air was palpable, and Kazumi and Raidou kept their gazes locked onto each other, daring the other to look away. Lisa pursed her lips at the sight, observing the situation.
If Kazumi looks away first, Raidou's position solidifies, but if he looks away first, he'll look weak.
She glanced at a different figure and frowned. And I'm pretty sure Jason would love to grab on to that. She turned her eyes back to the standoff, slight unease coming over her.
At this rate, this can only be resolved if someone else steps in...
At that moment, Lee stepped forward.
"Enough you two," he said, placing hands on both their shoulders. "Don't let your emotions get in the way."
Lisa sighed in relief. Lee's pretty much the perfect candidate because he's so strong. Because of that...
Kazumi turned away. "Tch. Fine."
Raidou exhaled quietly and nodded at Lee. Lee nodded in response before stepping back to his original position.
"Kazumi," Raidou continued, "I'm not trying to hold you back. All I'm suggesting is that you ignore any provocations that would get you into trouble if you respond."
Kazumi paused, then slowly nodded. "I'll accept on the condition that I have the right to request a spar from each member of the top ten in class."
The entire class flinched, and Lisa's eyes widened before glancing up at Liam.
His jaw was clenched tightly, and his hands were trembling. He opened his mouth and chuckled nervously, then noticed Lisa was looking at him.
"Well... I don't think he'll fight with you, Lisa. And I don't think he'd want to beat me up again, so we're good."
Lisa continued to gaze at him, then turned away.
"Don't feel bad. If he does challenge me, I'll give it my all. If he challenges you, I don't expect you to not do your best."
Liam remained silent, but the nervous shivering gradually subsided.
"Kazumi, that decision isn't really up to me. You'll have to get the others' permission."
Kazumi stared at Raidou for a few seconds, then turned to the rest of the class. "Well? You already know the pros and cons, and the deal happens only if the rest of you agree."
"I'm good with it," Raidou answered.
Lee sighed. "My answer is obvious."
There was silence for a moment, then Duke stepped forward with a smile.
"Fighting the strongest person in class seems like good training."
A tired-looking boy wearing a hooded black jacket raised his hand with a sigh. "I'm cool with it."
"Ares?" Liam muttered as he looked at the boy. "His name's... Jay Ares I think."
"Um, Kazumi," Hannah waved. "I can't exactly fight, you know."
Kazumi looked at her with a shrug. "Then we'll figure something out before we begin."
The rest stared in surprise.
Nanami's mouth dropped open. "You... you're offering to train her?!"
"Yes. Why?"
"You of all people?!"
"Yes. Why?"
"NO WAY!" most of the others exclaimed.
Kazumi frowned. "If she develops a style I'm weak against, it shows me what I need to correct and makes her gradually stronger at the same time."
Every single one of them stared at him in open shock.
"... Um, I accept," Hannah sighed with a raised hand.
Rex gave his consent, and the next person frowned.
"I don't see why I have to go along with this nonsense," said the white haired girl. She met Kazumi's eyes with her own ice-cold glare. "But if I get stronger, I don't see why not."
Kazumi nodded. "Good, Elsie. Now, Manabe."
Everyone glanced at the back, where Lisa and Liam were standing. Liam froze up at the looks, and Lisa scratched her cheek.
"Well, my powers don't work all that well on strong-minded people, so..."
She grinned at Kazumi. "Why not? I accept."
Both Kazumi and Raidou looked at her in surprise, then naturally, all eyes turned to the last person: Liam Paxton.
I don't wanna I don't wanna I don't wanna.
Even Hannah's participating. Lee and Lisa too. And if you agree, you won't have to suffer the repercussions of Kazumi's bloodthirsty rampages. On top of everything, you get a different frame of reference. You've been dealing with Lee for too long.
Liam took a quiet, deep breath and said with as much conviction as possible: "I... accept."
Kazumi sized him up with a look of boredom, then turned away to Raidou.
"Alright, I won't start anything from now on."
Raidou nodded and smiled. "Good."
At that exact moment, every CID present began ringing. A few people flinched and covered their ears due to the sheer volume of some, and the clashing notification sounds of others.
Everyone tapped their wristbands, and a hologram appeared. Silence hung over them for a few seconds as they began to read the message they had been sent.
Then the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Nanami dropped to his knees, a horrified expression on his face. He stared at his shaky hands in shock. "No... no it can't be..."
He looked up at the ceiling and yelled in agony: "NOOOOOOOOO!"
The other reactions varied greatly. Two more fell to their knees. One person curled up into a ball. Another lay spreadeagled on the ground. Most swore quietly, and others began pacing wildly.
Kazumi scowled deeply at the message, and Raidou put a hand to his forehead, as if he had a headache. Lee sighed with a slight frown, and Lisa was muttering bloody murder.
"I'm gonna kill him... rip it off... burn his eyeballs..."
Liam took a few steps away from her menacing presence and looked at the message again.
We have to do a ten-page report on the ecological effects of the presence of the canine Mo: the Umbriel. I think its ancestor is supposed to be... a wolf right? Although, those wolves were pretty small. It's crazy that such creatures evolved to those Mo.
Liam stretched a little before heading to the Crucible's exit.
I think this meeting's over, meaning I can head to my room, wrap this up in an hour, and get some rest—
"Liam, you can help me out right?" he heard Lisa ask.
Liam froze, and the abrupt silence slammed onto his shoulders.
... What is this ominous feeling?
Liam turned around slowly, then flinched at the sight of over twenty teenagers staring at him like lions in the presence of free meat.
He gulped, then faced Lisa. "W-w-what d-do y-you m-m-mean?"
Lisa smiled, her eyes narrowed and mischief glowing in them. "This assignment won't take you long right? After all, you already know everything about this Mo, right? You even read the Encyclopedia in your free time."
Liam shivered as he tried to keep his eyes trained on Lisa, and not the potential brain-hunters.
This demon of a girl! How the hell do people get the idea that we're going out?! How could you sell me out like this?
"Er... haha... I d-don't know what you're t-talking about. Me? Read an encyclopedia? You don't have proof—"
"I saw him reading the Mo Encyclopedia last week Saturday. He was even enjoying himself," Hannah shot back.
Liam's expression changed to that of betrayal. Et tu Hannah?! After saying that we're friends too! I guess I was wrong to assume that—
"Indeed. He's a total nerd, and a good one."
Everyone turned to Lee, then slowly looked back at Liam, hunger in their eyes.
"... You evil monsters..." Liam muttered. Without skipping a beat, he turned on his heel and ran.
"Get him!" Lisa yelled. "Catch the PaxWiki!"
I will get my revenge! Liam thought as half of the class charged at him. I swear I will!
****
Liam sighed.
Maybe I should tell Sir Zantos that I was forced into helping others with their homework. That should be good enough revenge, since I alone would be exempt. But...
Liam glanced around.
I might make a lot more enemies than I can handle, and it's not like I can handle even one of them. I'll let it slide just this once.
"Enough babbling," Zantos said, raising his voice. "Today, you are all going to meet your new teachers. They're going to be handling your practicals, Majors, and general classwork. I will remain in the position of your homeroom teacher, so at least you'll have one familiar person. Trust me, with these people, you'll need an anchor to steady yourself."
The students stared at him in confused silence. Zantos scratched his cheek. Nobody reacted.
After a whole minute passed, Zantos frowned.
"Why aren't any of you reacting?!"
Raidou raised his hand.
"Yes, you. Answer me!" Zantos said, his cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
"Well sir, the Headmaster already told us that we'd be getting new teachers. We were waiting for you to tell us when we meet them."
Zantos groaned and put a hand over his eyes.
This is humiliating, he thought as the sounds of snickering and whispering reached his ears.
"What's so funny?" Zantos glared.
Nanami was about to open his mouth when—
"Just so you know, I have a lot more assignments I can hand out.
Nanami shut his mouth and frowned.
The entire room became as silent as a grave.
"..." Zantos' narrowed eyes swept from side to side, then he nodded in satisfaction.
"Well, fortunately for you, your teachers are already here. That door should be open any second from now—"
As if waiting for him to say those exact words, the door to the classroom slid open, and nine people made their entrance.
All hell broke loose the moment the students laid their eyes on them.