"Alright, and now an Attacker," Nick says, before turning to Ella and I. "I was watching you too the closest out of everyone in the exams, so I've got a pretty good grasp of what you two can do, but still, mind explaining for the people at home?"
Ella and I exchange nervous glances. "I guess…I'll go first?" I suggest.
"Yeah, sure," Ella replies, as I turn back to face the others.
"Hey there. My name is Luis and I have no dreams," I say.
Jamie raises an eyebrow at me, Austin looks annoyed.
"No dreams?" Nick asks.
"No," I answer.
"None at all?"
"Nope."
"You sure?"
"I'm only here because I have to be," I sigh. "I became a Slayer just for the fact that if a demon attacks my family again I can defend us. As the man of the household that's my duty, and yada yada. I'm not trying to be great, I'm not trying to be a hero, I just need the minimum amount of strength to survive."
"And your ability?" Austin asks, though when he asks a question it's more like he's demanding you to answer.
"It's called Wind Control. Do I really need to say anymore?"
"Yes," Austin answers, clearly unamused, causing me to sigh.
I sighed.
"I emit my Cursed Power into the atmosphere and quickly spiral it around to manipulate the wind, though I can't create wind," I explain.
"Hmmm...are you sure that's all there is to your ability? I seem to recall a more...explosive power that you let out a few times?" Nick teases.
What the Hell, why does Nick keep enticing me like that?! Leave me alone, damnit!
"That power I used...I'm not sure what it was. It just kind of came out, subconsciously. As for now, I've been calling it catching my second wind" I answer.
Nick chuckles. "When I said that you have a strong power laying dormant within you, I mean it. What it is, I'm not sure, but I do know that one day you'll be strong."
My eyes widen. One day I'll Be...strong? No, no! That's not a good thing! That just means I'll be sent to fight stronger demons and be more likely to die! Man, of course I'm the one who was born with some mystery power.
"Well anyways Luis, I'd like to see how far you'll become one day. And last but sure as hell not least, Ella, can you please tell us about your miraculous ability?" Nick asks.
"Well...I wouldn't call it "miraculous," I'm not a miracle worker," Ella shyly replies. She seems to stress that a lot. "My Cursed Ability is called Wave and it allows me to release waves of energy which have multiple different effects. I can heal, increase one's physical prowess, increase the power of one's Cursed Power, even replenish it. My ability doesn't affect the physical body so when I for example boost one's strength it's not your muscles getting stronger, your body was just enhanced by my waves. As for limitations, I can't use Wave on my own body and...I can't heal the dead."
The rest of us are speechless for a while after that dramatic ending.
"Well, it seems like that's all for now, you guys are an excuse, except, let me tell you one last thing." Nick says, breaking the silence.
"What is it?" We ask.
"In a few days, you guys will be moved into a dorm house where you will all live, at least while you are on duty. You can go home on your days off, which aren't often. From now until the day you can no longer fight, you five will be on constant demon-slayer duty. This is just so that it's easier to rally up our troops and send out orders. Firefighters have to sleep in the firehouse sometimes. Oh and don't worry about picking out high schools. You all will be sent to the Official Academy for Junior Slayers for four years. Have fun!" Nick then stuffs his hands in his pockets and strolls away from us.
"Aw man, I have to live with those freaks?!" Grover wines, pointing at an upset Jamie and an annoyed Austin.
"Hmph, I should be the one annoyed that I have to live with you!" Austin snaps back. "Just try not to get in my way."
"Only if you don't get in mine!" Grover shouts, but Austin ignores his cry as he stands up and adjusts his glasses. "I have better things to do than listen to your petty squabbles," he says, causing Grover to growl at Austin. "Just remember one thing: I'm not here to make friends. We're teammates, and nothing more. All you guys are, are stepping stones to help me achieve my dreams. I'll see you at our dorm house." And with that, Austin turns and begins marching away from the rest of us.
"Damn that guy!" Grover snaps.
"Sorry about him!" Jamie apologizes as she pops up and jogs after Austin, as she jogged to keep up with Austin. "Austin's not a bad guy, he's just stand-off-ish, is all! He's been that way since we were kids!" Jamie explains. "See you guys later!" And without, Ella, Grover, and I are alone again.
The three of us stand in silence for a brief moment.
"I don't like 'em!" Grover then says as he crosses his arms, breaking our silence.
"Well, we're going to have to if we'll be living together," Ella sighs. "Jamie just creeps me out."
I peer over at Ella. It feels awkward knowing that I have to live with girls. A wave of indecent thoughts come flooding into my head, and I feel my face begin to grow hot.
Ella peers back at me and blushes. "What, what is it?" She asks. I quickly catch myself staring and turn away.
"I'm gonna break his glasses…" I hear Grover grumble to himself under his breath.
Oh yeah, I'll have to live with Grover too. Should be…fun. Interesting, to say the least.
"Well then, should we head home together?" Ella asks as she claps her hands together, lighting the mood.
"Yeah, sure!" Grover pipes up.
"Uhh…you two go on ahead, I'll meet you at the train station. I have some unfinished business to do," I say, as I stroll away from Ella and Grover with a determined expression on my face.
Ella and Grover watch me leave in silence.
"Luis doesn't seem the type to have any business here," I hear Grover say to Ella.
"Nuh-uh," Ella agrees.
***
"Ahh…finally…" Nick sighs to himself as he plops down on a couch in his office in the Slayer Organization Headquarters. Nick pulls a pack of cigarettes out of his suit jacket pocket and slides a cigarette out, holding it up to his lips. Nick then pulls out a lighter and flicks it open, holding it up to the butt of his cigarette, until bam! I slam the door to his office open. "Ah!" Nick yelps as he quickly spits his cigarette out and slides the pack and lighter back into his pockets. "Luis, how'd you find me?" Nick asks as he turns to face me with a nervous grin.
"It was pretty easy. I just asked an employee: "Where's Slayer Hachi, I'm in his squad and I need to ask him a question?" And he gave me directions," I answer. "Plus…your name is on the door."
"True," Nick replies. "Not that I'd love to chat, Luis, but why are you here?"
I stroll farther into Nick's office after closing the door behind me, staring Nick up and down. "Why did you pick me for your squad?" I ask.
"Ah, so you've figured it out," Nick chuckles. "I already told you, Luis. You have potential, potential that I want to cultivate."
"But there's got to be something more than that?!" I cry, the frustration bubbling up inside of me. "I'm not strong, I'm not smart, I'm not ambitious, and I don't even want to be here! There's no way that me with potential but no motivation is a better choice than someone like Grover, who has ambition and has been training his entire life with Cursed Power?!"
"Well I picked Grover too, as well as Ella. You three got along well, so I figured they'd be good choices. Jamie and Austin were random add-ons. Normally, a team of Slayers study the rookies and divide them into squads of equal strength as well as Cursed Ability compatibility. But I've already mentioned how I've got connections in this Organization, so I was able to specifically pick you three," Nick explains. "But you're right, Luis, I did pick you for something more than your potential," Nick continues as he gets off the couch, strolling over to me, and staring me back in the eyes. Nick closes his eyes, and when he opens them…they look far sadder than before. "You remind me of myself when I was younger," Nick smirks. "In all of the worst ways possible."
I pause. "That's…it?" I stammer. "You picked me because I remind you of yourself?! And what does "worst ways possible" mean, what's that supposed to mean?!"
Nick smiles. "I think you can be the next Bumblebee!" He says, leaving me speechless. "And yes, a big part of that is because you remind me of myself when I was your age."
Me, the next Bumblebee? Me, the next strongest Pro Slayer? Me, a hero?
"I…I'm just Luis. Nothing more…nothing less. You have too lofty of expectations for me," is the only thing I can muster.
"Just a Luis is all we need," Nick replies.
"I…I need to go now," I stammar. "My friends are waiting for me." And for once, I'm the one to walk away from Nick, who is left standing there, staring as I walk away from him, looking upset.