Chapter 9
Emily and I spent two hours looking up mental health services for quirk users. I was disappointed that while such services existed, there was a definite stigma attached to their use. It was a Japanese cultural paradigm that people should solve their own problems.
Other than dragging the troubled guy – whose name we didn't even get – to a counselor like Mr. Yanagi, I am not sure what we can do for him. This is not a problem for a pro hero but for a pro therapist. Where is Dr. Yamada when we need her?
"I'm done for now," I said aloud, practicing my Japanese.
Emily sounded disappointed.I had not realized how barren the mental health landscape was. I have always assumed that, because people came to my family for counseling and advice, that everyone took advantage of assistance when in need. I am appalled that my assumption is so wrong.
"It is what it is." Exhausting my limited vocabulary, I continued using our mental link. I'd imagine the culture has also been influenced by the rise of quirks – both healing quirks and those in general. Quirk healing makes people think that anything that can't be healed instantly probably isn't a medical issue. It's a character problem. Regular quirks make people think that they have even more resources and options to put towards personal problems so they should be even easier to solve.
Do you really think so?
Maybe? It's one idea. But, I could be completely wrong. I've seen that the presence of powers can change a society. Yours is a different example of that. Powers have existed here longer than in my world, so any effects on society may run deeper. Regardless, I don't know what we can do other than give him your Dad's number. With the chance he is already a villain, doing so might put your Dad in danger.
I … I don't know what to do.
How about we text him contacts for three to five places, including your Dad. That way he won't necessarily link us to your Dad and can make his own choices. Ultimately, he has to decide he wants to go for help. This gives him some resources once he decides.
It seems a prudent course of action.
Fifteen minutes later, we had the list. I decided to get a burner phone in the morning to use to contact him.
The next morning I packed the special needs gear into my backpack, adding a dark grey hoodie and black scarf as a makeshift costume to go with the party mask. I set out for school early to pick up the phone. I was still hoping to find a quiet tea shop as well.
Finding a phone I could afford took up all my spare time, but was necessary. I now had two numbers to go in my new "cape" phone – the dragon and the crazy guy. I might put the reporter's in there too, just in case. The search for relaxing tea would have to be postponed.
During the morning, we had condensed versions of the academic classes we did not get to the previous day. It turned out that Juzo was also a fluent English speaker. Present Mic, the English teacher, had three native or near-native speakers in the class. He decided to use us as assistants for dialogues and demonstrations – as well as having us offer individual assistance to the other students. He said he might try to have us help out in some of the other first year classes as well, but would have to bring that up with the other teachers.
At lunch, I sat with Shoda and Kodai again. Bondo and Pony joined us.
"How come your English is so good?" Pony was chatty and friendly. I think she was also a little desperate to speak English. I could understand that, though my easy communication with Emily filled most of my need for conversation.
"My mother studied in Australia for a year. She likes to keep in practice and my father doesn't speak the language. So, as soon as I started studying English in junior high, she pushed me to practice conversation with her at home."
"Wow. Well, you're really good."
"Thanks. So are you." I made sure to keep my voice quiet, hoping she would do the same.
"Have you ever visited the States?" Pony asked.
"That is an interesting question," I dodged by turning the question on the others. I spoke slowly to help them understand the foreign lanuage. "Shoda-kun, have you ever traveled abroad? Outside of Japan?"
"I hab been to … Hawaii," he said in English. "It was … very pretty."
"Oh! I've never been there. I'm from Texas." Pony drank in the attention like a plant drank water.
"Oh! Texas!" Bondo said. "Cowboys!" He shot off guns with his hands.
"Mm," Kodai added. I got the impression that was her happy sound.
During the rest of the meal, the others joined in occasionally, but I think a combination of shyness and lack of English skills kept them from participating much. When we switched back to Japanese to include the others more, Pony and I were the ones who were more hesitant in our speech.
After lunch, we were waiting in the classroom. There was quite the buzz among the students. This would be our first class with All Might – the most famous and admired hero in the country. Possibly the most powerful as well. Just after the bell he burst through the doorway.
"HERE I AM," he started in a booming voice. "Entering the room like a normal teacher." He continued his voice dropping to a more normal tone.
The man had presence. Easily a match for Alexandria, but with a more approachable air. Something like Legend, but more so. They called All Might the Symbol of Peace. He was known for saving people with a smile. I wondered how he would have done on Earth Bet.
"I teach Hero Basics." All Might stood behind the lectern, arms akimbo, his cape flowing behind him. "It's in this class that you learn the basics of becoming a hero. You'll be spending more time in this class than any other. So let's get right to the heart of it – Combat Training!"
"You are in the wrong uniform for that. You need these!" He pointed to the wall where units filled with briefcases expanded into the classroom. Each was marked with a number corresponding to our seats.
It was our costumes.
"These are based on the designs you submitted some weeks ago. Today will be a test for your costumes as well as your combat abilities. Afterwards you can suggest adjustments for later designs."
The initial costume design requests had been due as part of the acceptance confirmation package we had sent back just a couple of days after I had been summoned to this world. It had been mostly Emily's original design. I had been too uncertain and confused to be able to come up with many of my own ideas.
She had originally just had yoga shorts and a sports bra under a white, knee-length kimono with a furred collar, three dark straps around her waist, knee-high socks, and a black mask that covers her face from the bridge of her nose down.
I managed to make a few changes before we sent it off.
I felt a lightly-padded grey or black under-suit of spider silk – or its synthetic equivalent – was needed for protection. I added a utility belt and a long grey scarf similar to the one used by one of the UA faculty called Eraserhead. I asked that it be made of the strongest material they could find while still being relatively light. I didn't want to add too much weight, so I could have my limited flight. The scarf replaced the weird fur collar. I just couldn't see any use for the fur. Finally fighting gloves and boots replaced bare hands and traditional sandals. I wanted to be ready for close combat.
It looked like they had gotten me almost everything I'd asked for. The under-suit was both heavier and less resilient than I'd hoped, but was still workable. I might have to see if I could find or make a better replacement eventually.
The scarf was great. The notes that came with the costume said it was made from the same carbon fiber and special metal alloy as Eraserhead's. I wore it wrapped around my back and shoulders – sort of like a tasuki – but with the sleeves hanging out and the ends of the sash hanging down in front of each shoulder. I could animate the ends like extra arms. Or I could unwrap the whole thing and use it as a medium-distance binding weapon.
I wanted to start testing the sash, but decided to keep the capability secret for now. I did transfer several items I had bought the day before to the pouches in the utility belt. If I'd only bought one item, I kept it in my bag. I'd only be wearing the costume at school and wanted to be prepared wherever I was.
"Come ooonnnn…" Tokage, in her snakeskin suit and mask, urged. "I want to fight!"
"I'm ready!"
"Me too!"
Soon we were out of the girl's locker room and met with the boys that were ready. After a few more minutes, we were all on our way to the bus in front of the main building.
The variety of outfits was amazing. From what looked like traditional Chinese dress to tuxedos to Grecian robes to something that looked like a bottle. There were a few more standard hero outfits, and a few that looked like street clothes with a little extra. Mine was somewhere in that last group – Japanese street clothes with some things extra.
We pulled up in front of Ground Beta – a walled enclosure containing a congested city center complete with buildings, streets, alleys, and greenspaces. But no people or cars.
This was where my practical exam took place. I can already feel the anxiety caused by that horrific experience returning. I do not know how long I will be able to remain cognizant.
Come on Emily. There is no conflict at the moment. Any conflict that does happen is not real. It is all a lesson. Just like math class. This is just another lesson. No evil. No hatred. Just learning. It might even be fun, like a game.
I cannot see combat, in any form, as fun.
I need you to at least keep translating until any actual training starts. Can you do that? Anything but talking that happens is on me. My decision. My responsibility. But, I need your help until then.
I'll try.
"Yanagi Reiko と…" I snapped back to the explanation All Might was giving when he said our name. Emily began translating. " … Tsuburaba Kosei are Team C."
Great. Not my favorite person and our powers are not a great match. I wonder what the task is.
All Might quickly finished assigning us to pairs. Then he explained what we would be doing. "While many villain fights happen outside, the worst villains are disproportionately encountered indoors."
I had read a lot about the Symbol of Peace and expected him to be less than his press portrayed him as. And incredibly egotistical on top of that. But there seemed to be much more to him than my lowered expectations would allow. I was amazed at how his quiet speech drew everyone in. While impressive looking, there was much more to his impact. I began to wonder if this man had a secondary human master ability – Super Charisma!
"For this class, you will be split into heroes and villains and fight two-on-two indoor battles." The pairs looked at each other, eagerly or (in our case) warily.
Though I saw a few hands on their way up, All Might continued before anyone could ask questions. "The situation is that the villains have hidden a nuclear weapon somewhere in their hideout. They heroes are trying to dispose of it before it detonates. The heroes win by either capturing the villains or touching the weapon before the time runs out. The villains need to protect the weapon for the whole time or catch the heroes. Two basic strategic options for each team. But you don't know in advance which strategy the other team will use."
He held up a box into which he dropped the papers that had our pairings on them. "Opponents will be determined randomly, like your partners were."
"Seems like an odd way to select pairings," the lizard-skinned Tokage mused. "I'd think deliberate combinations would make for more even battles."
"Villain fights are seldom fair," Shoda replied. "And in a crisis, you may find yourself teamed with almost anyone. I can see why they might want to leave this to chance."
Please keep translating the comments. I requested. It is helpful to get to know the classmates.
I shall endeavor to provide the ongoing details, but it may be difficult to determine or distinguish who said what as they get more rambunctious.
You should just concentrate on the words being said and by whom, rather than the details under discussion. It may help you avoid getting uncomfortable once the simulations start.
A generous notion, but unlikely to succeed.
Drawing out two papers, All Might announced "The first battle will be Monoma Neito and Bondo Kojiro as heroes versus Komori Kinoko and Tokage Setsuna as villains.
"Boys versus the girls!" Awase crowed.
"Go Team Girls," Kendo cheered.
I rolled my eyes.
"While the villains have five minutes to prepare the Heroes will wait outside. At the buzzer – Let the battle begin!" His voice reverberated throughout the deserted cityscape. Then he seemed to remember there was more he needed to convey. "Oh, be sure you all have the communicators and capture tapes. Go all out! But remember you do not have to render your opponent unconscious. Simply wrapping the tape around both wrists will count. If things get out of hand, I will stop it."
I'd heard that at least one student had been sent to Recovery Girl when Class 1-A went through the same exercise yesterday. That might make the teacher more cautious, or it might help the other students realize the dangers of their chosen profession and the importance of getting better.
"Everyone else, please head to the monitoring room," the teacher ordered. "We will watch all of the battles to learn from each other's successes and mistakes."
The monitor room was surprisingly high tech with a massive monitor that took up an entire wall. We could see and hear both teams easily. Other sub-screens cycled through the building's interior.
While there were some large sunny rooms, most of the battle stage seemed to be narrow, dimly-lit hallways lined with what could have been metal or hard rubber plates. The former would protect the building. The latter would be easier on students. I was curious which was the priority for the school.
"Ok, everyone," All Might said seriously. "I want you all watching carefully and thinking critically. Why are they doing what they're doing? Is it working? Why or why not? What would you do differently in the situation? Pay attention to both the hero and villain teams. You could end up as either."
On screen, we could see as Komori turned the entire interior of the building into a fungus farm. Mushrooms were everywhere, covering every surface. The stairwells were blocked and doors hidden. They were going with an area denial and control strategy. They set the bomb in a small room on the fourth floor of the six-floor structure. It was in an interior room with a door hidden behind a wall of mushrooms.
Tokage sent both eyes and one ear to patrol the building. The small organs moved under the layer of mushrooms so they could not be seen. She had other bits of her spread out throughout the building to react as needed, while keeping a core with Komori next to the bomb. Both hands were trailing the eye and carried the capture tapes.
"That is so gross," Manga joked. "It would be like walking in a field of cow patties."
"This is worse," Juzo argued. "I think some of those mushrooms are puffballs. They release spores that can cause sleepiness or even hallucinations. I think I see a few stinkhorns as well. They smell really horrible."
"Cow patties aren't so bad, once you get used to them," Pony added slowly.
"Mushrooms may smell bad and make you sleepy, but a real man could easily burst through," Tetsutetsu said. "They have no strength." He held up a clenched hand.
"Quiet down," All Might ordered. "The bell is about to ring."
At the sound, Monoma tagged Bondo as they entered the door. Barely three meters later, they were stopped by the first wall of mushrooms.
"Right about now, I wish I had been able to copy that Bakugo's quirk," Monoma said, placing his hand on Bondo's shoulder. "Blowing up this wall would be so much easier than smashing through it."
Monoma walked to a column of mushrooms that seemed to be growing off each other. He spat a stream of glue on it and quickly pried it away from the rest of the wall. As the glue dried, he molded the encased matter into a crude club. Once the glue dried completely he had a hand weapon with some heft.
"I think with something like this we can batter our way through." The blond brandished his makeshift weapon.
Bondo looked at Monoma. It was impossible to read any expression on his inhuman face but he quickly followed the Trump's lead, mashing the bulk of the fungus into a massive maul. With the two weapons and the gentle giant's enhanced strength, they were able to bash their way towards the stairs.
At the stairs, while the 'heroes' were preoccupied clearing a path upwards; Tokage maneuvered her two hands into position behind the fungi. As Monoma cocked his club behind him in preparation for another swing, the multi-part 'villain' was able to wrap his wrists before he noticed her presence.
"Monoma-shonen is captured!" All Might announced.
Bondo turned, glue spraying over his partner, attempting to capture the attacker. Tokage was quicker. One hand knocked the back of his head, directing the glue spray onto his chest, while the other hand wrapped his wrist. She then pulled at his ankle, unbalancing him. While he tried to regain his balance, her hand with the tape pulled his hands together and wrapped his second wrist.
"Bondo-shonen is captured!" All Might announced. "Victory to the Villains."
Everyone in the monitor room applauded.
"Now who do you think was the MVP of the battle?" All Might asked the class.
"Tokage-san," Awase answered.
"Why?" All Might asked.
"She captured both of the other team," he replied quickly.
"Anyone think differently?" the teacher threw the question back to the class.
Juzo raised his hand. At the teacher's nod he said, "While Tokage-san is fast and tricky enough she might have been able to catch them both regardless, it was Komori-chan that gave her the opportunity. She controlled the battlefield and set the pace of the enemy's advance. She also gave Tokage-san the necessary concealment to pull off her surprise attack. Even if they had not been captured, I'm not sure the heroes would have found the bomb in time given what Komori-chan did to the building."
"Anyone want to propose one of the heroes?" At the classes silence the teacher offered. "I think Honenuki-shonen has the right of it. That kind of excellent support can make or break a direct action hero. Remember that."
Next up was Shoda and Awase attacking Tetsutetsu and Kendo.
That's a lot of close quarters specialists. I think this is going to be a brawl. I commented to Emily.
Please, Taylor, let me concentrate on translating. If I pay attention to what they are doing to each other, I may not be able to continue.
Let me prepare my partner for that eventuality.
I moved towards Kosei. "Hey, got a minute? I need to tell you something." I kept my voice down and pulled him to the back of the room.
"What is it?"
"During our battle I probably won't be able to talk much or even understand what anyone is saying." I said.
"What!"
"Quiet!"
"Why won't you be able to talk?"
"It's because I got hit in the head recently. I have some issues with communicating in stressful situations – like combat. So we'll need to plan before we enter and not rely on being able to communicate once things kick off."
"Your attention please," All Might's voice carried over the conversations in the room. "They are ready to start"
I looked at the screen and saw that Kendo and Tetsutetsu had knocked out most of the floor in the big bomb room, creating a fighting pit on the floor below. The bomb was wedged in the rafters, two stories above the pit.
Shoda and Awase arrived and the big brawl began. It wasn't long before the villains managed to take down the two heroes. Kendo had strength and serious martial arts skills. While Tetsutetsu was a basic Brute that could soak the damage Shoda put out. Awase managed to bond the steel boy to the floor, but metal muscles were able to rip up the wooden flooring.
It was fun to watch. However, I had planning to do.
"We will be facing either Fukudashi and Kodai or Honenuki and Shishida," Kosei said after Pony and Kamakiri were chosen to face Rin and Kuroiro.
"So either two grab-bags or a close combat specialist backed by an area control specialist." I said. "Either way I think you play defense and I will provide sensors and offence. Agreed?"
"You have enhanced senses?"
"I can feel remotely so I can feel from the outside. You can create air steps to go up outside the building?"
"Yeah,"
"I can hover up to the top floor, sensing in each floor as we go." I had noticed all the buildings were without glass in the windows, a safety feature I figured – or Class 1-A had done a lot of area damage.
"If we are fighting Manga and Kodai – they both have ranged attacks. You can shield us, maybe try to block them in a corner, and I can try to capture them."
"Pretty much the same for the other pair I guess?"
"Except you try to keep Juzo from trapping us in the floor or surprising us through walls. Shishida is fast, but if you can confine him momentarily I can capture him."
"Got it."
"Your attention please!" All Might's raised voice told me we had missed his first warning. Kosei bowed slightly in apology. I followed his lead.
Looking up it was obvious that the villains had decided to risk it all on a direct confrontation. Kamakiri was a monster in close. And Pony was versatile at any range. Her powers were similar to mine in effect if not origin – though she could only control her horns. Rin and Kuroiro decided to take a chance. The monochromatic hero vanished almost on entry to the building, leaving Rin to face off against the two villains.
He was a good match for them. His scales were effective against Kamakiri's blades and could shoot to counter Pony's horns. Rin was also faster than the others were and had serious kung fu training. The class watched in awe as he managed to stretch the engagement, finally pulling Pony from her defensive position. At that instance, Kuroiro appeared out of a shadow and touched the bomb.
"Hero victory!" announced All Might. "In the next battle Yanagi and Tsuburaba will be attacking Fukudashi and Kodai. Villains get to the building. Heroes prepare your plans."
"Kodai is going to shrink it, isn't she?" Kosei suggested as we waited.
"I-I would," I replied. I could feel Emily withdrawing. "About to … shut d-down. Anything … else?"
"Let's … 頑張って!" Emily stopped mid translation.
"Hai. Ganbatte." I had learned some Japanese. Enough to recognize the 'Fight Hard' or 'Good Luck' phrase.
The bell sounded. I pointed up. Kosei nodded and started blowing out transparent platforms that hung in the air. As he climbed his makeshift stairs, I gathered my poltergeists and sent individuals throughout the first floor. I got a feel for the layout that matched what I had already seen. This was the fourth building for today's exercises, but they were all pretty similar. I pointed to the first floor and shook my head. He gave me a thumbs up. I hovered upwards and checked out the next floor.
This was the beginning of a chase. It became obvious they had run when we hit the sixth floor and the bomb room was empty – except for what looked like the bomb. Kosei wanted to rush in, but I held him back as I prodded the bomb with a spirit. At a touch, it exploded, sloshing glue all over the room. If we had been inside it would have caught us.
"No reason they would abandon it like that," I explained in English.
"Ok," he replied in the same language, but I wasn't sure he had understood me.
I pointed back down.
We found them on the stairs between the third and fourth floors. Kodai tossed a handful of coins at us out of the window. They grew as they flew. Kosei blocked two while I knocked the others off course.
Manga yelled "ザップ!" sending a lightning bolt to destroy the air platform Kosei was standing on.
As my partner plummeted, I threw myself at a window. Catching hold of it freed my spirits to send my scarf to wrap around Kosei. He was not that heavy, but Reiko's body was not that strong. Between me and the spirits we swung him into a window on the floor below me.
"スプラッシュ!" Manga's voice sounded above me. Suddenly I was drenched, the cascade of water almost knocking me off the building. I pulled myself inside, followed by my scarf.
Now that I knew where the Villains were I was able to keep a few spirits in contact, letting me track them. I used a small swarm to direct Kosei to block their movement. I gave them my phone to type messages for me. I'd almost forgotten I could communicate one way through the ghosts' ability to write.
They were doubling back to the fourth floor. We went up both flights of stairs and managed to catch them in between us in a long corridor. Not ideal for our pre-set strategy, but we could make it work.
Or so I thought until Kodai tossed a couple of barrels that quickly grew to totally block the hall on either side of them. I heard a "バズ!" and suddenly felt them drop down a floor.
Damn, that Manga is incredibly versatile. I decided I needed to get sneaky. Taking a page out of Tokage's book I sent a small swarm with one of the capture tapes to snake through the opening they had just made. Fighting remotely was very familiar to me.
I brought the tape up behind Manga's back and lassoed him, pinning his arms to his sides.
"Fukidashi-shonen 捕まった!" I heard All Might over the PA system and in my earpiece.
Kodai dropped another barrel and rode it up as it grew. She was just beyond a blockage in the corridor. I sent another capture tape through and tried to catch her. She shrank it before it could snag her.
I remembered that she had to touch her fingers together to activate her power. A quick text to Kosei and the next time we caught up to her, he blew a barrier between her hands while I pinned her to the ceiling and wrapped her up.
"ヒーローの勝利!" Announced the teacher. Given Kosei's jubilant reaction, I could guess what he said.
Emily still had not rejoined me as I watched the last battle. Ibara literally flood the building with a tsunami of green vines, pinning the villains and digging the bomb out of the concrete tomb Jozu had buried it in. She was more than a little scary.
After that, it was time to go back to my own little piece of purgatory.