章節 23: The Brain and the Muscle

(A/N: Accidentally uploaded this chapter too early... So, if there was a lucky bastard that managed to open it during the 5 seconds that it was available... Good for you.

And as per usual, the self-promotion: 11 advanced chapters on Patreon if you are feeling like spending a bit of money to support the creation and read ahead while at it, and also beginning to write a One Piece FF about an immortal guy)

->patreon.com/TheSynonym<-

°°°

...

"Very well, students, the time has passed. I will now be taking your printouts on what life course you have decided for your life"

In a classroom, a teacher began passing by each of his student's seats taking with him the sheets where each of them had written what their planned career for the future was.

There were at least thirty students, so it took him a bit of time to collect all of them.

However, finally, after a few minutes, the teacher returned to his desk and checked every paper on his hands. Taking his time, and looking from time to time at the chattering students while he did so.

In the end, after ten minutes or so passed, the teacher finished reading all of the papers and stood up. Gathering the attention of all the students, who were curious about what careers their classmates had chosen.

To no one surprise, though, the teacher's announcement that came next was something that happened almost too often nowadays.

"... Seriously kids, all of you want to become heroes? And here I thought some of you would want to follow my steps as a teacher…" The man said as he let out a chuckle.

"No way teacher!" A student at the bottom yelled, causing most of the classroom to giggle.

"Very funny Hideo…" The teacher smiled while squinting his eyes at the student who laughed carefreely, thinking of maybe leaving him to clean the classroom after class. However, at the next second, he hit his palm with his fist as if he had just remembered something before he picked up the papers again and began speaking out loud.

"Though I have to say, two of your papers surprised me quite a lot. Suzaku and Arata, both of you are actually trying to get into UA?"

"Eh? UA?!"

"The top hero school?!"

"I heard it was in the top 0,2% this year. They are actually trying to enroll there?!"

"But they accept so few people every year!"

In the middle of the classroom, the two previously mentioned students nodded their heads among their bustling classmates.

Arata, though, could be seen squirming a little bit in his seat. Uncomfortable… or maybe enjoying the attention? Who knows.

Suzaku, on the other hand, symbolically adjusted his glasses as he turned them black so that they would look like sunglasses before he smirked and exclaimed out loud "It will be a piece of cake".

Though, his teacher raised an eyebrow when he heard him say that.

"Really Suzaku? I saw your results on the mock exam. You got a C"

Something that caused Suzaku to stiffen for a second as if he had remembered an unpleasant memory.

He recovered pretty quickly, though, as in the next second he crossed his arms before grumbling "That's because I've yet to get truly serious".

"Well, if you have made up your mind, then make sure to study as much as you can before the exam begins in one year. As for you Arata… Well, you already have that part covered up, right? You got an A after all…"

Arata nodded his head at his teacher's words, before smiling smugly at Suzaku, whose eyebrow twitched at his friend's behavior.

"Well, I will support both of you. Just make sure to prepare well enough. UA isn't one of the top Hero Schools in Japan and the world for nothing" Their teacher said, pointing at them with his chalk.

"Yes, sensei" Both teenagers said in unison.

After that, the class continued as usual, until eventually the bell rang and declared the end of the school day. Causing many students to cheer in happiness.

"Well, you are all dismissed…" After hearing the bell, the teacher said while turning around to clean the blackboard. However, as he moved his hands to begin cleaning, he remembered something and yelled over his shoulder.

"Oh, and don't forget to do the homework I gave you"

"Tsk"

"I heard that Suzaku"

"Whoops"

"Oh, and Hideo, today you are on cleaning duty"

"Eeeeeeeh?!"

After that, both Suzaku and Arata picked up their backpacks and left the classroom. Soon after reaching the school gate, and thus deciding to walk back home together while they were at it.

On the way, Arata looked at the red-haired kid with a raised eyebrow, before asking him "So you are planning to enter UA as well, eh Suzaku?"

Something that was answered by his friend with a confused gaze of his own.

"That's what I should ask you. I thought you would write something about becoming a doctor or uh… Whatever geniuses like you plan to become"

"Well, I've always wanted to become a hero. Didn't you notice?"

At that, Suzaku massaged his chin for a moment, before he began muttering. "Huh… Now that you mention it, you were pretty obvious about it…"

Digging through his memory, Suzaku could recall a lot of times that Arata had jumped up to help in unjust situations, trying to be the hero.

Most of the time, he had to clean up after his mess. Nevertheless, that didn't take away the heroic character of the kid.

On top of that, the kid would often yap at him about heroes nonstop every single day, like he paid attention to anything related to heroes on the news or the internet.

He was the typical aspiring hero stereotype!

'Damn, it was darn obvious…' Suzaku felt the urge to facepalm himself.

"Hey…"

However, while he was still lost in his thoughts, Arata nudged him from the side and shot him a confused glare once again.

"... But seriously Suzaku, a C? I remember that when I met you you were almost as good as me at school. How come your grades began falling as we grew older?"

"Hmph" Suzaku sneered in response, looking at Arata with disdain. "I'm just holding back for now so that you can have your moment of glory. I will beat your ass in the exam, though"

"Suuure…" Arata said in a low voice while grinning at Suzaku as if not believing him at all.

"... Want me to hit you?" Suzaku raised his fist.

"By the way Suzaku, how are you gonna deal with the practical exam? I suppose that since we will be applying for the hero course, we will have to fight with something or someone" Ignoring Suzaku's pissed-off expression, Arata asked him curiously. After all, his friend didn't exactly have a Quirk suited for combat.

Neither did he, but that was beside the point.

"Huh? Oh, don't worry. These babies will deal with it" Said Suzaku as he rose both of his fists and began kissing their knuckles. Causing Arata to deadpan as he looked at his friend.

'This guy is actually serious?'

Nevertheless, he accepted that answer.

After all, his friend hadn't remained unbeaten in their school for nothing.

While his Quirk wasn't one that could be used for combat, he sure had proven he could take on anyone with only his fists and feet. No matter how dangerous of a Quirk his opponents had.

In a way, he had come to admire him for that.

"Your fists, huh…?"

As he muttered that, Arata stared silently at the air. Seemingly thinking of something.

However, he was quickly interrupted by Suzaku, who glared at him with doubt.

"What about you? I don't think you will fight using that hair of yours, right? I mean, it looks like a pretty useful Quirk, but I don't think it excels very much in the offensive department"

"Huh? Oh, I will be using some tools that I created in the garage of my home" Arata said while wearing an innocent expression.

"...Tools?" Hearing that, Suzaku asked dumbfounded.

Seeing his baffled expression, Arata smirked, before he then began digging through his backpack.

Then, finally, after a few seconds, he brought out what seemed to be some kind of baton.

"I call this… Thunder Staff!" He said while lifting it as if showing it to the heavens.

"Thunder Staff…?" Suzaku asked with a deadpan. Not too keen on the name.

Ignoring Suzaku's glare, Arata smiled confidently before he began explaining.

"Yes, Thunder Staff. A creation of mine that I came up with a few years ago to have a chance in the practical exam. In summary, it's a small baton that can produce electricity around its upper part, and that can be used to shock my opponents if needed"

"... You made this thing yourself?" Upon hearing that, Suzaku asked as he examined the "tool". Giving Arata an impressed glance not long after.

Not only was he good at school, but now this guy was even crafting his own devices to fight? Man was he a genius.

Suzaku even couldn't help but think that maybe he should have thought about doing that as well.

'Nah, I'm dumb as hell'

He quickly shot down that idea, though.

While Suzaku was doing that, Arata continued with his explanation.

"Well, the truth is that I noticed a long time ago that if I wanted to join UA my Quirk wouldn't cut it. So, after a lot of deliberation, I chose this weapon since it allowed me to neutralize opponents rather easily, and because I could use multiple of these with my hair functioning as additional limbs to grab and swing them" He let a strand of his hard suddenly grab the baton, before it then began moving just like another arm, causing Suzaku to stare speechlessly.

"Amazing" In the end, that was all his red haired friend was able to say.

At least for a second, before he looked at Arata dubiously while darting his glare between his friend and the "Thunder Staff".

"Hey, but isn't this just a Stun baton?"

"Tsk"

At that moment, Arata clicked his tongue and stuffed his legendary weapon back into his backpack before resuming his walking. Leaving behind the dumbfounded Suzaku, who could only stare speechlessly at his departing friend.

"..."

"This guy…" In the end, Suzaku shook his head before walking after Arata, patting his back with a wide grin on his face once he caught up to him.

"Don't sweat the small stuff. I think it's pretty useful"

"Really?" Arata's face brightened at the compliment.

However, with Suzaku next to him, it was only a matter of time before that ended.

"Do they allow us to bring stuff like that to the exam, though?" Suzaku asked with a raised eyebrow. After all, if they did, then he would gladly bring with him a metal bat or another blunt weapon to use rather than his fists. Who knew what he would be fighting in that exam, after all?

"...!"

Hearing that, Arata's face paled up, before he grabbed his slimy hair with his hands and screamed while falling on his knees.

"Noooooo!"

After that, Suzaku let out a sigh and simply patted the kid's back with a pitiful gaze.

It seemed like he did not consider that.

'Poor bastard' Suzaku shook his head.

A few minutes after that, both of them resumed their walk, all while Suzaku smiled wryly at the still-sulking Arata who seemed to be lost in deep thought.

-Thud-

Then, out of nowhere, he hit his shoulder. Making the kid squeal in pain before turning to look at his friend with a bewildered gaze.

"What the heck was that for?!"

At that, Suzaku smiled, before he raised his fist at him, asking for a fist bump.

"Stop sulking like a sissy. There's still a whole year before the exam begins... You'll figure something out by then"

"..." Arata blinked.

However, after a second he smiled wryly before he returned the fist bump.

"You're right. Why am I even so worried about it?"

Then, he swung his fist at Suzaku's shoulder. Aiming to return the punch from earlier.

Unfortunately, his fist only met the air, since his friend dodged him effortlessly.

"Ugh… Ahem" After that, Arata acted as if he had been just stretching out, trying to suppress his embarrassment for failing to hit someone who was standing right next to him. Causing Suzaku to chuckle, and Arata to grit his teeth in frustration

And like that, the pair of aspiring heroes continued their walk back home. Arguing with each other from time to time, or simply talking about what their hero names would be or what their hero suits would look like.

Needless to say, neither of them had good ideas.

…

-To be Continued…-

(A/N: Goal for extra chapter 120 Power Stones, seeing that you were struggling with the 200 last week.

What a benevolent Author I am.

Also)