Chapter 8: Head Professor

She has a short, grey hair which bounces everytime she walks. She wore a long robe with the color of light green and ecru*, which gently flutters in her every step. Surrounding her is a gentle yet dignified aura which matches her bold gaze.

(*ecru-color close to cream)

Some students exclaimed in shock.

"Gasp! It's the head professor!"

"It's Madame Elizabeth Montgomery!"

"Oh no! She's mad!"

Fear and tension filled the room as the head professor approaches. Arriving at the platform, she glanced at the battered students before looking at Professor Qiang. A flash of furiousness could be seen from her face before quickly maintaining her composure. She calmly spoke,

"Please explain yourself, Professor."

"..."

"Professor Qiang Shanqu, don't make me repeat myself."

The loud and confident Professor Qiang is strangely nervous and silent in front of the Head Professor.

"... Well... I just figured it would be... It would be good for the students to... To show their, umm... Like y'know--"

"Pfffttt. Hahahahaha!"

A loud, blatant laugh was suddenly heard from the spectator seats.

Boy, do you have no fear?

"Ahem. My apologies. I couldn't help myself."

It was Allen Denver.

Hearing the male student's outrageous action, the head professor slowly turned her head and glared at him. After some time of the sweatbreaking silence, she opened her mouth and spoke,

"...Ah. Maybe I can arrange some time for a little chat with you along with our chairman, Mr. Denver."

Allen's face that was full of cheerfulness and vitality quickly distorted into a frown. Turning back at Professor Qiang, she continued,

"And you, Professor. You've been told so many times that any type of fights, be it a lesson or a scuffle, is not allowed on orientations! Especially the fact that there is no consent from the Chairman or the Head Professor! Still, you do it every single year! Have some restraint for yourself! You are supposed to lead the students, not fight with them!"

Professor Qiang could only face down after being nagged by the Head Professor. We could only blankly stare at the scene before us.

"Look at what you've done to the children! They're all tattered and dirty! Speak for yourself, Professor!"

We were told to go back to our classroom and wait for the upperclassmen. We went to the dressing room and cleaned ourselves up. We slowly walked back to our classroom, passing by other students who were guided by their Professors to the school. Everyone slumped down at their seats, the exhaustion is present in our every breath.

Two upperclassmen went to our room and cheerfully facilitated us for the day. They recorded our names for attendance and played Q and A. At 9:30 o'clock, two other upperclassmen appeared. We were guided around the school buildings, giving us paper maps for guide.

After handing out the maps, one upperclassman spoke,

"I apologize for the map for now. You will be given personal student watches tomorrow morning, it has many functions including maps and messenger apps so you don't need to worry."

....

Most of us went to the cafeteria at lunchtime, while others stayed in the classroom to sleep.

I unwrapped grandma's congee and put it in the microwave. I carefully took it out after a couple of seconds and made my way to the dining tables.

As I try to look for an empty seat, I felt a lot of intense glares directed at me coming from different directions. It didn't take long before I felt myself suddenly shrinking in front of the stares of angry beasts. I looked down and trembled, curling inwards.

Ahh...

How could I forget this feeling.

I haven't even overcome anything yet.

Of course it will still be like this.

Even here...

Sweat trickled down my face and my breathing became unstable.

Yes. It was like this even back then.

I quickly shut my eyes and walked faster, ignoring the whispers I keep hearing from the glaring people. But then,

Tap.

Someone tapped my shoulder.

....

"Hey, Okasaki! Here!"

(Ryuji Okasaki-blue haired examinee at chapter 2 and 3)

Ryuji spotted his classmates happily waving at him at one of the tables in the cafeteria. Carrying the food tray on his hands, he slowly walked towards the table.

"I know, that Erin guy. So friggin sly, isn't he?"

He suddenly heard a bunch of freshmen badly talking about Erin Dayle.

"It just doesn't make sense. Who in their right mind would believe that some powerless person can pass the exam when lots of ability users fail in other hero schools?"

"I heard he isn't the type to be very smart in normal subjects too."

"Talk about cheating! One of my friends didn't even make it here and he had amazing powers!"

"Look! He's over there!"

He quickly looked at where the students are pointing at. He saw Erin, sweating profusely and has his head hung low. He waved at his friends and said,

"Sorry guys, I'll pass today! I'll join you guys tomorrow!"

"Awww!"

....

Tap.

I quickly turned my head around and saw a familiar figure.

"Hey, Erin-chan~~ It's your best buddy, Ryu!"

Keeping a relatively funny face, I saw Ryu as he continuously tap my shoulder. Noticing my face full of sweat and my shaking pupils, he asked in concern,

"Erin, you alright?"

His words snapped me out of my thoughts as I wipe the sweat off my face. I calmed myself and faced him, saying,

"I-I'm fine."

Eh. I stuttered.

"You sure?"

He asked again, I nodded to his question. He sighed, and urged me to follow him.

"C'mon, let's sit over there."

We sat on the empty table at the very corner of the cafeteria and quietly ate our food. Minding the silence, Ryu asked,

"So... How was your first day in class?"

"Ahahaha.... About that..."

I was slightly taken aback by his question.

How do I tell such situation? The only sentence that came to mind is 'leisure fight disguised as combat lesson orchestrated by the teacher himself'...

'You know what, I'm kinda doubting myself if I should continue the sem, honestly. The moment I enter, multiple quarrels are already happening. And as punishment, the professor made us run to a combat room to fight him and be beaten to death!!!'

... Is what I wanted to tell him, but,

"... It's good... I guess?"

"That's great then... Our professor made us run continuous laps after a fight broke out between my classmates that destroyed nearly half of our classroom!"

...

What?

Seeing the complicated look on my face, Ryu laughed out loud as if he is happy, then quickly frowned and sighed. Quite a fast display of emotions I see. Ryu continued,

"What's more, our professor won't teach us anything until we finish repairing the classroom back to its original shape!"

I quietly stared at him, thinking.

How can I be sure you're not one of the offenders who destroyed the school property?

Understanding my expression, he retorted,

"Don't look at me like that! You know I'm not someone who likes causing fights wherever I go! I'm a kind and virtuous soul."

Then he clasped both his hands tightly, posing like a holy priest.

Pfffttt.

"Ahahahahaha!"

Ryu and I have been close friends ever since the entrance exam. We chatted about how he was placed in class 10 and I was in class 5. We would talk on the phone everyday, and I would sometimes eat at their eatery and chat with Ryu and his family. They are very warm people. I would try pay for the food, but they would reject it everytime. I was very thankful for them.

We both laughed loudly and continue to chat 'til the end of lunch break.