Chapter 21: Inevitably, the Heroine

I Hate the Club (2)

"You've arrived."

As we entered the faculty office, a cold-looking person with glasses greeted us. Aisha flinched momentarily at the sight of her long, braided blue hair, but Veronica waved her hand as she sat on one side of the sofa.

"...I think we have a lot to talk about. Me too, and Aisha Irian, Xenon. We need to hear your stories too."

"...Yes."

Even sitting on the sofa, it was incredibly uncomfortable. They probably called us in to talk about the incident that happened during the practical exam. That, combined with the fact that we were late today and her sharp impression, made me so nervous that I thought it would be better to face the villains.

Sip-

In the quiet faculty office, where only the sound of tea sipping could be heard, Veronica opened her mouth.

"...Unauthorized use of Ability, destruction of public facilities, damage to property, and even an Ability alarm went off due to excessive use of Ability."

"...I'm sorry."

It felt like I was shrinking every time Veronica mentioned one by one what happened yesterday. In fact, my answer was barely audible, because I barely managed to say it. As I cowered under the cold gaze directed at Xenon and me, Xenon opened his mouth.

"That's...there's a reason..."

"Everyone has a reason. Even if I know that you encountered a villain and fought in a position where you had to respond, you are just students. If you were heroes, I wouldn't say anything about buildings collapsing, harming someone's property, or using Ability. But what is your status?"

"...Students."

"Yes, you know it well. Then you know what I'm going to say."

It must be a punishment. I wanted to argue something while listening to Veronica's words. But as she said, we were just students. Even if we were talents who would become top heroes in the future, we still had to act in accordance with our status as students.

I hung my head and agreed with her words. Then she slowly opened her mouth.

"...Are you hurt?"

A warm voice, so much so that I thought she was a different person from before. I was momentarily mesmerized by the softness that wrapped around me, and when I looked up at Veronica, she chuckled and sipped her tea.

"...Professor?"

"I said it that way, but I'm not blaming you or thinking of punishing you. There are school rules and laws, but as much as there are those, there are also extenuating circumstances."

"Then..."

"Before that, didn't I ask first? Are you...not hurt anywhere?"

Isn't she a completely different person from before? To be honest, my first impression wasn't that good, but the change was so great that I was dumbfounded. Even while she put her hand on my shoulder and examined my body, I just blankly entrusted myself to her gentle touch.

"Ha, you have no idea how surprised I was when I saw the news. It's a place where two people I'm constantly worried about are, and such an incident happened. I ran as soon as I saw the news, but when I arrived, you weren't there. Do you know how that feels?"

"Oh...you came?"

"Yes. Of course, I fixed the collapsed building a little while looking for you. Ugh, anyway, I'm glad you're safe."

Huff, Veronica sighed and touched her forehead. I just thought she was always weak and a little scary when she was angry, but I was relieved by her unexpected appearance, and I just smiled awkwardly.

"Well...anyway, I have to praise what I have to praise. Aisha, I received a call from Jace in District A saying that you subdued 10 villains. I secured the CCTV footage from that side, and after checking, you really handled everything alone? Of course...there were some people who hurt their wrists. But I decided to turn a blind eye to that."

"Ahaha..."

It was such an urgent situation that I couldn't control it properly. Anyway, I was relieved that she said she wouldn't say anything about it, and I smiled slightly. Come to think of it, what happened to the practical exam? As if noticing my question, Veronica took out two pieces of paper.

One piece of paper with a simple letter A written on it, and a piece of paper with a C written on it. But on the paper with C written on it, there were traces of F being written and then crossed out as if it had been erased. Veronica handed me the paper with only A written neatly on it and opened her mouth.

"Aisha did well. Well...there was a 6-hour gap, but there was evidence that it was a fight with a villain. Even before fighting the villain, she stopped steel bars falling from the construction site to save people, found the house of a lost child, and helped an old woman...she did a lot of things, so I decided on A."

Hmm-

Veronica, who was looking at Xenon, forced a smile as if she was in trouble, and then sighed deeply.

"...Did something happen? How can there be no records at all? Even if there is a hero in District A, there's no way there wouldn't be anything to do..."

I was also troubled by those words. I didn't think he would be out of his mind until then. He must have been staring blankly after hearing what I said. As I looked at Xenon with that thought, he had a surprisingly indifferent expression on his face.

"...Then what happens to me?"

"You'll get an F and be held back a year."

"Held back..."

"But, I got a call earlier."

A call? I tilted my head at those words, and Veronica looked at me and smiled slightly before continuing.

"It was a call from a little kid. He said that a Hyung who was crying on the street took him to his house...he heard the Ability alarm and ran away when he was almost in front of his house."

"You cried?"

"No, I didn't! I really, really didn't."

I didn't think he would cry. I didn't know he was so soft-hearted. I didn't think he would cry. As I looked at Xenon, who was waving his hands in embarrassment, Veronica burst out laughing again.

"You two are close."

"...No, I don't really think so."

No, maybe we are close. Isn't it okay to be friends now? I turned my gaze slightly to see how Xenon would react, and he was looking at me with a slightly disappointed expression, as if he was upset by my answer.

"What...why."

"No...just."

He licked his lips and looked at the floor again. Anyway, it was time to stop teasing him and hear what Xenon's score was. Giving him an F was a bit much, considering the line was drawn on it. There was also a C written on it. Maybe the call from earlier had an effect.

Thud-

As I was thinking that, Veronica put down her teacup and pointed to the paper.

"So Xenon, we decided to believe that child's words. In fact, there is no evidence and it's just a child's words...but it's the first time we've ever received a call. So the score we're giving you is C. You avoid being held back, but please work hard in the future."

"...Yes, thank you."

C, I didn't think he would just stand there doing nothing during the practical exam. And he was crying...well, he says he wasn't - but a child's eyes can sometimes see through emotions.

"Now, the practical exam is over. By the way, you two. Have you thought about joining a club?"

Club? We both asked back what she was talking about, and Veronica gave a wicked smile.

...I have a bad feeling about this.

#

Club activities at the academy were not 'mandatory'. It was just a kind of spec that helped to become a hero later, so the academy was providing a lot of support, and I knew that, so I was thinking of joining a club someday...

"...So you already have other clubs in mind?"

"Yes...I'm sorry..."

Bang-

The teacup hit the table as if it would break, and I flinched at the loud noise. No, even if you suddenly tell me to join a club, I can't just agree right away. A club that you can't change until you graduate once you decide. I wanted to think carefully and decide.

"I...I'd like to think a little..."

"Aisha, our club is prestigious. Famous heroes among the graduates have all gone through our club. Even Edwin Carmen! Was in our club!"

It seemed like I was seeing many different sides of Professor Veronica today. From a cold and rational appearance, to a benevolent and kind appearance, and even such a nervous appearance. She's been telling me to join the club since earlier, saying she can't let me go...but I don't feel drawn to it.

Xenon seemed to be thinking the same thing as me, just nodding his head, and especially when Edwin Carmen's name came up earlier, his face frowned slightly. He probably won't join this club no matter what.

"...Teacher?"

I couldn't let her keep talking about that person in front of Xenon, so I opened my mouth, and Veronica realized what she had said and closed her mouth.

"Um, Xenon...I'm sorry. I made a mistake."

"It's okay. It's not like I get that angry just by hearing the name."

"Thank you for understanding. Anyway, I really want to take Aisha and Xenon to our club. If I give you time, I can give you about a day. There won't be a more perfect club than ours. Yes, I'm confident in that."

"Ahaha..."

I carefully avoided her eyes, which were now blazing, and carefully got up from my seat. If I stayed here any longer, I would be forced to join the club. I nudged Xenon, who was sitting still without noticing, and he finally got up from his seat.

"Well, then, can we go now...?"

"Yes, it's our lunch time now..."

Veronica, who was listening to Xenon's words, looked at her watch and nodded. I wonder if she knows that she's been holding us for a long time.

"Um, has it already become that time? Then, think carefully and see you tomorrow."

As I left the faculty office, I sighed deeply.

"Haa..."

"You worked hard."

"No, I just didn't know the conversation would go on for so long."

"...By the way, what she meant by seeing us tomorrow."

"She's probably going to force us to join the club then."

I don't want that. To be honest, I wasn't trying to join a club to become a hero. I just entered the world of the novel, and since I entered the academy, I was just trying to join one. Strictly out of interest. In that sense, the professor's club...was far from my priority.

It's good that there's a lot of support. Scholarships? It was tempting, but I wasn't in a hurry for money because I was going to get money in the name of defeating the villain. But apart from that, I wasn't confident in handling the tight schedule that was strictly designed to become a hero.

Now that I'm 17, can't I play a little? A club that moderately attracts my interest.

"Have you thought about a club?"

"...No, I've never been interested in clubs themselves."

In the original story, he would have joined the club that the professor talked about around this time. When I have these conversations, I realize that the story has changed. No one was hurt, and it just ended with the building being a little more destroyed. I didn't feel as desperate from Xenon as I did at this time in the original story.

Much better.

"Ah- you!"

As I wore that pleased smile, someone shouted from behind. I wondered who it was and was about to turn my head when something crashed into me. Dumbfounded, I couldn't say anything for a moment, just blankly staring at the person who was hugging me.

"...Reisha?"

Her makeup was smeared all over her face from crying so much, making her look hideous. She wasn't ugly, considering her natural features, but it was clear that she didn't look good. What on earth had happened to make someone who was supposed to be an adult act like this?

"Hic...waaaaah...!"

First, it seemed like I needed to calm her down as she buried her head in my chest and cried.

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