A hoodie was removed, revealing long, brown hair with sunset red and orange tips. The person before them gave off a resolute stare at the two, before taking a big breath inward – before exhaling it out.

?: My… my name, it’s Tetra. Tetra Terror. I’m the fourth-”

Noel: “Hey, are you a boy or a girl?”

Rise: “Hmph! You can’t even tell? It’s obviously a boy.”

Tetra Terror: “You… You’ve got it wrong! (‘It’? I am not an ‘It’! I don’t accept the idea of being separate ‘genders’ and forcing people to like the opposite because of it being the ‘correct’ way that mother nature intended for us to-”

Noel: “How can you tell? You’re lying. They obviously have both maleish and girly looks, so it’s not easy to figure out what their gender is!”

Tetra Terror: “I already-”

Rise: “Nope. Not really. It’s easy. Extremely easy. I can tell without any effort!”

Tetra Terror: “R...Really?”

Noel: “Oh yeah? Then how…?”

Rise: Heheh~

*Smug face*

By their smell! He smells like a boy.”

Tetra Terror: “...What?”

Noel: “...What a weirdo. There’s NO way that smelling people can determine if their gender is a male or female! That is a bold – faced lie!”

Rise: “*Shrugs* Believe what you want to believe. Besides their smell, they’re also flat chested. Like, REALLY flat chested. So there’s also that.”

Tetra Terror: “*Feels chest* Gender roles...are they really that important? I’d much prefer it if you saw me instead as genderless… if it’s okay with the two of you, that is.”

Noel: “Okay. I don’t really mind either way, Hehe. I was just a little curious, is all. So anyway…

.

.

.

Who are you?”

Tetra Terror: “I was trying to tell you before. My name is Tetra Terror, and I’m the fourth ranked King of He-Hero High.”

Noel: “...King? What’s that?”

Tetra Terror: “*Gasps a little*

You… you mean that… You don’t remember me?

(But… But isn’t he the one that confronted Harvey back then?? And – And Nilia too… this kid, does he suffer from an injury to the head? The rumors told me that… that he got hurt by invading villains, but this is a bit… sad.)”

Rise: “Huh? Are you supposed to be special or someth-- Ah, wait.

.

.

.

That’s right… You were part of… Psst! Hey, Noel! He’s one of those cocky chumps that you lectured in the Assembly. Remember the guy named Harvey? He was with them!”

Noel: “Oh. Well then, it is very nice to meet you again, Mr. King.

…Ah – I’m very sorry, you said you were ‘genderless’, right? Then I shouldn’t say ‘Mr.’…

...Hm…

I’ll just call you genderless King for now. I can’t look up proper terms without a computer or some such.”

Tetra Terror: “(These guys...actually don’t care?? I mean… I’ve seen some people that genuinely don’t show interest in me, but – but that’s always before I come out as a Generational Leader…! Once that happens, and after they recognize me – I’m always showered with praise!

...Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. I only came over here for one reason anyway.)”

S-Sorry to disturb you both, but I really came by to check o-on you both! If you were both okay and stuff, after the villain invasion...”

Rise: “Grr, We’re fine! Nobody got hurt too badly, so stop fishing in troubled waters!”

Tetra Terror: “H-Huh? Fishing in troubled wat- no, no you’ve both got it all wrong! I only came by because I’m a – a leader! You know, the title Generational Leader, it means exactly that! To lead and aid our current Generation into surpassing the previous that came before us! I – I would be an embarrassment of an up – and – coming leader if I didn’t even check on you normal stu-students… I – I mean, non – combatants, after a villain invasion...at least, I personally feel this way…”

Noel: “Thanks, your kindness is really appreciated, but we’re both fine. At least I am. It was only disappointing how the heroes, other than my homeroom teacher Mr. Abrams, didn’t properly do their job as bona-fide ‘superheroes’. Rather than protecting the weak, they instead, focused on protecting the strong… Or… well, that’s how it felt to me, in any case. I don’t know what they were all doing, but both security and the heroes stationed here, inside of this school, suck.”

Rise: “Haha, right? It’s terrible. We almost di--

...died.

(That’s right. That other kid, Leos… didn’t he lose his head? Dammit… and I nearly kicked the bucket, too!)”

...Tetra didn’t know what to say. Sure, these two had every right to grumble and complain. They were attacked on school grounds by villains, after all. Furthermore, rumors have already started circulating in regards to the adults protecting the superhero and sidekick - in – training dorms, without batting an eye to the non – combatants. The teachers already adamantly denied this as mere speculation and slanderous rumors some students concocted to damage their school’s reputation.

And they were partially right – except it wasn’t the act of some group of ‘students’.

Not alone anyhow. The chess pieces for a dangerous play, were steadily unfolding right at the start of the brand new school year.

How many ‘hands’ were involved in the school’s affairs? How many plots were getting started or currently still in the works and under everyone’s noses?

Anyways Tetra stayed tight-lipped from then on. After a few seconds of bidding them farewell, he immediately took his leave. Following him, A familiar faced brat popped his head in through the only entrance into their room.

His name was Xano.

And surprisingly, two UNfamiliar students, accompanied him in.

One sported long black and wavey Hair that held a slight bounce in it, and proudly showed off a snake – like tattoo from her neck to her collarbone. The tattoo appeared as if the snake was strangling her, while its powerful tail rested directly above the area her heart lay.

Her Sports hoodie was dyed a venom purple, and the words OROCHI were clear and vivid, around her back.

And the second stranger…

Her haughty demeanor truly fit the word ‘EMPRESS’ that adorned nearly all her belongings as if the word were her own personal logo. She could be very considerate and gentle at times, but her confidence and pride were both sky – high! She wouldn’t take being offended and ridiculed lightly! With a Platinum blonde hair color and Golden tips, their was no way she wouldn’t attract a crowd wherever she went!

?: “Hmph! Be grateful! Even though you tried to embarrass us back then at the Assembly hall, I won’t fault you for it. Everyone was ganging up against you after all! It was a case of ‘pack mentality’ vs a ‘cornered rat’. Truly forgivable. Thus, we’ve brought you both some get well gifts.”

?: “I only brought flowers and a vase. Don’t expect much better. Even after my full scholarship into here, this place still manages to kill my wallet with cafeteria food prices, club activity transportation fees, private tutoring, snacks…

So be happy with this.

*PLONK*

There. My good deed for the day is done.”

Noel: “…”

*Stares at Vase*

?: “…What?”

Rise: “…”

*Stares at visitors*

?: “Hum? Why are you just staring at us like that? Well? Don’t be afraid. Speak!”

Noel: “…”

Rise: “Uh, who the hell are you people?”

?: “!!”

?: “!”

Xano: “Pfff…! (No… gotta hold it in!)”

?: “You- YOU PEOPLE! Did you actually FORGET ME??! ME of all people?! I am the Empress – the EMPRESS!! I don’t ‘get’ forgotten!

If anything; I’M the one who does the forgetting…! And here I was: being KIND enough to bring you a get well gift … here!

*Slam!*

Take your stupid hot cocoa mugs!”

?: “...My new name after arriving here, is Orochi Suzuki. I happen to be the 9th Ranked ‘King’ of Hero High. Although I’d MUCH rather be called Queen.

That girl over there is Beke Meier – the ‘EMPRESS’. She likes to make her own castles out of cubes and stuff. She’s called the Cubic Queen officially, though.”

Noel: “...Oh. I see.”

{I didn’t ask for any of those extra details … All I wanted to know were your names.}

Rise: “*Yawns*”

Beke Meier(Cubic Queen A.K.A Empress): “HEY! You dare YAWN at our introductions?!”

Orochi Suzuki: “It’s fine, they’re both probably still very tired.

Whispers: Beke. They most likely suffered temporary memory loss. You shouldn’t trouble them so much. They’re patients, remember?”

Beke Meier(Cubic Queen A.K.A Empress): “...Oh.

…

…

*Sigh*

You’re right. Fine! We’ll just leave!”

Orochi Suzuki: “Bye, karma kid. Hope you feel better soon~”

Beke Meier(Cubic Queen A.K.A Empress): “Hey! Kid Karma is already a superhero in Justice He-”

*SLAM!*

Noel: “…”

Rise: “What...just happened?”

Noel: “Haah. As if I would know. Hey, are you the next person to wish us a ‘get well soon!’ praise?”

Xano: “HA!

...The two of you can rot in hell for all I care. Unlike those other two just now, I only came to rub salt in your wounds! Everything feels right in this world again! HAHAHA!”

Rise: “...What? Grrr, are you askin’ to die kid?! I’ll--!”

Noel: “Rise, that’s enough. Calm down. This guy isn’t likable, anyway. We shouldn’t give in to his pitiful need for attention.”

Rise: “Grr, you shut up you stinkin’ midget! I don’t take orders from you! Keep nursing your wounds!”

Noel: “…”

{Father… I might break my vow with you, today. I might actually kill these people if they continue to belittle me…!

.

.

…Ah – but I already almost broke it, back in the forest.

…

What father doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Just like these guys – if I get rid of the evidence before brother sees…

…uhehehe.}

---