An Undead Academic Experience 11

Chapter 11: Session
<<<Kana Sato>>>

“Ah, Sato,” Hound Dog said as she entered his office, “Please take a seat, I hope the rest of your class has been welcoming?”

“More than I’d expected,” She replied blandly, not bothering to put on a mask. This was, she supposed, her therapist for the time. Better show him the true her than to even try and trick him she’d already become human. It wouldn’t work and would just waste both their time. “I have a question for you, however. To my knowledge, therapists know different coping mechanisms, yes?”

“Correct,” Hound Dog said, “Do you believe you need some help coping with something?” He asked curiously.

“I was curious if you’d ever heard the term ‘mind palace’,” She replied, frowning in concentration, “I can access all of the knowledge my spirits can, which includes knowledge of fictional works, and so in order to give them something to do I wish to construct one within my own mind and populate it with those works.”

“I’m familiar, though I never had the patience to do it myself,” He admitted, “My quirk makes me restless. Doing things like this? As long as I have some chews, I can manage. But to create something like that? I’d never get past the basics. Though I do know some people that can help you, and honestly your reasoning is a good one.”

“It will help me keep them calm and satiated, ensuring their cooperation with me when exploring their quirks and knowledge,” Kana said, face as flat as her voice. “They fear me, I feel their fear impacting my own emotional state, I wish for such to stop.”

“Still doesn’t change the fact you’re doing right by your involuntary headmates,” Hound Dog said, “Even if your reasoning isn’t for entirely altruistic reasons. Believe me, someone doing goodness out of pure selflessness is rarer than you can even imagine.”

“Waterspout was doing it partially for money,” She acknowledged, “But there was a selfless core to her actions as well. I am unsure if I can truly develop such, but…” Kana paused for a moment as a thought came to her. “Perhaps I can train my mind to emulate it.”

Hound Dog gave a faint chuff, “You’re a smart young lady, and I’m sure if you put your mind to it you’ll succeed,” He said, “Though you don’t need to be an altruistic person to do good, look at Captain Celebrity. He’s a sexpest and hedonist, and yet he still does good and saves lives. Granted, he could do with some self-control, but no one’s perfect.”

Kana raised a brow. "Captain Celebrity is a Hero from America,” Hound Dog said, “He used his popularity and reputation to get laid. And after one too many scandals, he got in trouble, he got stripped of his license, and fined. And he came to Japan to resume being a Hero, not like any prison could hold him… or he could be caught if he ran. Super strength and flight make containment hard. So… he got a slap on the wrist and banishment, forcing him to start all over. Not a just punishment but… well, it works, I suppose.”

“How annoying,” She replied, “I’m sure I could do more good with his quirk than he does, and I am… far from weak already. I will have to look into the ability to give quirks away, All For One can do so, perhaps I can as well…”

“Perhaps, though it’s not a line of thought worth following. Chances are in your career you’ll eventually find something similar or even a combination of quirks that are superior,” Hound Dog said, “But giving away quirks, hmm? I would’ve thought you’d hold onto your collection?” He added with no judgement in his voice.

“Some quirks are more of a hassle than others,” Kana said, “And… I imagine if I can do something like All for One, there are people out there with quirks they would do anything to be rid of. Quirks perfectly suited for Hero work, but they have no intention of pursuing a career in Heroics.”

Then her hand waved. “And it would allow me to get rid of the most annoying souls bothering me.” It was an easy thing to admit, any therapist would usually tell her that having less voices in her head was a good thing, surely?

Hound Dog just chuckled faintly, “Fair enough, are there any new headmates you get along with aside from your parents?” He asked curiously.

“I enjoy Waterspout’s input,” She answered, “And the young boy that was named Shoichi is pleasant enough, though he does not have the context to understand why the others fear me.”

He was young, after all. A mere twelve years of age. He could not possibly understand what it was like interacting with someone that did not view others as alive, let alone things on the same level of her own existence.

That was something that she should mention as well, now that she thought of it.

“Other people do not truly feel like People to me,” Kana started bluntly, “To be specific, they do not feel truly alive, they feel like simple state machines instead; far from the level of cognition I am. I know, intellectually, this is not the case but it does not change how it feels.”

“Hmm, I assume this is related to your quirk?” Hound Dog asked, “It’s been well documented that some quirks often come with secondary or even tertiary mutations or psychological adjustments. Take Bakugo for example, if his quirk didn’t have secondary mutations to help him deal with the backlash of his quirk he would be crippled and possibly deaf,” He pointed out, “There’s nothing wrong with you, it’s simply your quirks way to protect yourself.”

That… was something she hadn’t truly considered before, but looking into herself she could certainly identify the souls she’d taken as people on her level. She still couldn’t fully empathise with them, but was that a matter of experience or of inability?

“I believe you may be correct,” She stated after a moment, “I can identify the souls of those I have taken as People, though I struggle to truly empathise with them, but not those I’ve not taken. Vexing, if it were to protect me it would surely be the other way around, no?”

“You would think,” Hound Dog said, “But sometimes quirks like yours appear, and it's still… work in progress. In a few generations from you, any future family you have won’t have the issues.”

“I believe I am a third generation quirk,” She noted, “But my grand uncle is a complete sociopath and does not even view the souls within himself as people. He keeps them chained and enjoys their screams. You may be correct.”

“Heh, well while gratifying as it is that you agree I believe we’ve drifted a bit.” Hound Dog said, as he looked at a paper, “Tell me, how are your friends Xiao and Momo?”

“Lily has become more clingy, as though she can keep me safe by her own force of will,” She started, “Or teach me empathy with closeness. So far, it hasn’t succeeded.” Not that she’d expected it to, the mind didn’t work like that.

Hound Dog chuckled at that. “It’s the thought that counts really,” He said

“I enjoy her presence,” Kana noted, “Like one might a cute dog, but enjoy regardless. Momo is more distant, but cares regardless. Her I appreciate as well, though her caution sours things minorly. It is not within the bounds of concern, however.”

It did hurt a touch, which was odd, but that would be ‘souring’ so she was still fully truthful, leaving nothing out.

“Hmm, have you talked to her about it?” Hound Dog asked, “She might not even realize she’s doing it.”

“... I had not considered that as a possibility,” Kana admitted, “Mm, the soul’s negativity bias may be affecting my judgement more than I’d expected. Or perhaps a newfound paranoia? I will have to sort through the feelings later.”

Hound Dog chuckled faintly, “Well, has anyone in class been giving you trouble?” He asked, “I know Aizawa keeps things under control. But well… you’ve already experienced his teaching style.”

“No, they know what I can do and any attempts at emotional attacks fail for, well, the obvious reasons,” She replied with a shrug, “One member in particular has been giving my classmates a hard time, but they are able to handle them on their own.”

Hound Dog nodded, “It shouldn’t be happening in the first place…” He said with a faint growl, “I don’t suppose you are willing to name names then?”

“I believe it is necessary for both sides to come to their own resolution,” She replied, “Childhood grudges to be set aside.”

Hound Dog clearly didn’t agree but was willing to let it rest, “Have you caught up on everything you missed?” He asked curiously.

“Thanks to the week long break school had, yes,” She replied, “I have discovered I do not need sleep any longer, such has allowed me to catch up on school work. As a bonus, the long period captured has let me train my quirk to better control small amounts of energy. I can safely say that being imprisoned was worth it as a result.”

“And I’m sure your friend is more than willing to help,” He said with a faint chuckle, “Hmm, well this is just an introductory session unless you feel the need to talk more?”

“I do not believe such is needed,” She replied with a nod, “Could you give me the contact information for those people you mentioned before?”

“I’ll have it compiled for our next session,” Hound Dog promised, “Haven’t talked to some of them in years so I’ll have to look through my contacts.”

“Understood.” And she did, it wasn’t like she had an absolute perfect memory of things her spirits didn’t see or hear either. “Thank you for your time, Hound Dog. You likely are not paid enough for this.”

That got a laugh from the pro hero. “Sato, let me assure you. While Nezu pays well, I don’t believe any therapist is prepared for my job,” He said with a rueful chuckle, “Though it is satisfying, so I can’t really complain.”

“I will be as cooperative as I can be to ensure as quick a resolution as possible,” She replied, standing up from her, admittedly very comfortable, seat. “I am aware I need help, but I’m unsure how to best acquire it. I hope you will lead me to a solution, or where I can find one at least.”

“Sato, the fact that you realize it and acknowledge the fact puts you ahead of every other patient I’ve had,” Hound Dog said, “Now go on before Xiao decides to storm my office, she’s been pacing the hall for the last ten minutes.”

“It gets in the way of my own pursuit of pleasure,” She admitted, “My problems, in specific. I have been told Love is the greatest pleasure one can know, and so I seek to achieve it.” Her hand twitched as she exerted an ever-so-small amount of force to turn the door’s handle on her approach. “Hello, Lily. Do you know where Momo is?”

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