“It… it seems we were both selected from our class, Mr. Riley.”
“That seems to be the case, Katrina.”
If one were to close their eyes, one could probably hear the sound of a boing drumming through the air as Katrina slowly made his way towards Riley. The room they were in was as big as the classrooms, but instead of bleachers, desks, and a stage for an instructor to teach on; there was only a wide round table planted right on the center of the room.
“I was under the impression that I was the only one selected from our class,” Riley then said as Katrina’s brea– as Katrina stood beside him.
“S… sorry! Should… Should I leave?” Katrina then slightly panicked, turning her head from left to right and causing her breasts to jiggle.
“No, why would you?” Riley blinked a couple of times in confusion, “I think it is good that there is a familiar face in the room, Katrina.”
“Is… is that so?”
“Yes, especially you.”
“M… me!?” Katrina’s face turned into cherry as she slightly covered her face, her arms further pinning her large breasts and causing them to almost pop out from her costume– a feat not easily done; especially with a costume like hers.
Her costume was far from tight; containing several layers of frills that overlapped each other like a scale. As for her mask, it only covered the lower part of her face; like some sort of futuristic oxygen mask. Her ability to control wind probably contributed a lot to her choice of costume.
“W… why especially me!?” Katrina continued to squeal loudly, once again causing her breasts to bounce.
“Because the attention I usually garner is cut to half,” Riley then answered.
“…What?”
“Most of the time, in a room, all of the eyes would be looking at me because of my unique aesthetics. But now, half of them are looking at your humongous pair of breasts, Katrina. And for that, I thank you.”
“…Oh,” Katrina’s head then tilted to the side; and if one were to look closer, it was as if her soul was leaving her body from her mouth due to the disappointment from Riley’s words. But after a few seconds, her attention travelled to the so-called eyes that Riley mentioned. And true enough…
…All of the other people in the room were looking at them. Or more specifically, towards Riley and her breasts.
“Is everyone here?”
But before she could do anything about the stares, the metal door of the room slid open; revealing the individual that would be supervising their club. And as soon as they saw who it was, the attention that was gathered towards Riley and Katrina completely disappeared as the room was quickly filled with bursts of quiet gasps.
Nightwalker.
The instructor of Class 1-F, which was dissolved due to the fact that almost all of their students were killed by the Dark Millenium. And with that thought, the faces of the students once again became sedated; even through their masks, their expressions of doubt and grief could be seen.
None of them have forgotten what happened, but they were trying their best so they could move on. But seeing Nightwalker approaching them, the memories of what happened during their activity in Toronto once again resurfaced in their minds.
“I am going to ignore what all of you are feeling right now.” Nightwalker’s quiet words echoed through the entire room as he took a seat at the round table, “I would have to ask all of you to also take a seat so we could discuss what your role truly is in the Academy and in the coming Festival.”
The sound of chairs squeaking then whistled in the air for a few seconds as the students all took their seats; and since they were already somewhat gathered in a circle around the table, it did not really take that long for them to settle down.
“Police Force,” Nightwalker then said as he tapped the tablet in his arm, causing a hologram of the entire area of the Academy to emerge at the center of the table, “And as the name suggests, you will be responsible for upholding the rules and laws of the Academy. You are also authorized to report and personally arrest those who break them, and with the upcoming Festival, that includes students from the other Academies…”
Nightwalker’s explanation continued on for almost an hour; most of the students, however, became lost midway. But their task was simple and did not really need that much explaining in the first place. It was mostly Nightwalker explaining and teaching them the layout of the entire Academy, and with how large it was, the students didn’t really think that they would be able to cover most of it– and so, they lost interest in listening.
There was one, however, whose eyes did not leave the hologram– Riley.
When Katherine recommended him for the Police Force, he had wanted to reprimand her for moving without asking him first. But as soon as Katherine explained that the Police Force would have access to some of the Academy’s facilities that were otherwise only accessible by the staff, he quickly agreed.
There was also the fact that he would have more freedom to finally explore the Academy, as no one would question him why he was where he was because he belonged to the Police Force.
“That… that was quite unnerving, wasn’t it?”
And as soon as everyone started leaving the room, Katrina quickly let out a long and deep sigh as she slouched on her chair.
“I don’t even think I deserve this,” Katrina then said as she carefully adjusted the red band wrapped around her arm, “I… I can’t even discipline myself, much less other people.”
“I believe that to be false, Katrina,” Riley then quickly answered her as he stood up, “When our classmates were starting to fight back in the dome shelter, you were the only one that stepped in to stop them.”
“You… you saw that?”
“Yes. And I believe the Academy saw it as well– and that is why you are here, Katrina.”
“R… really?”
“No,” Riley answered, “But I believe it to be the case, it is up to you to come up with your own conclusion.”
“I… I see,” Katrina did not know whether to be happy or slightly irritated from Riley’s blunt words; but still, she let out a small smile and nodded her head, “Thank you, Riley. Let’s do our best to uphold justice from now on!”
“…” Hearing the enthusiasm in Katrina’s voice, Riley could only shrug his shoulders before turning to leave.
Justice?
The only thing closest he has done that involved justice was extinguishing the Justice Defenders. But still, he did it quite well– so that was still something to be proud of.
“S… see you back in class tomorrow, Riley Ross!”
“Of course, Hurricane Katrina.”
***
“Let… let me out of here! You think you can– Agh!”
In a room seemingly devoid of any light, a high pitch scream was whistling in the air. Not for long, however; as the screams were quickly replaced by a cry.
“Is… is anyone here!? Please… please help me!”
The once demanding scream became that of a cry; pleading, whispering through the darkness. The only reply the voice received, however, was a grunt that seemed to have come from somewhere near her.
“H… hello!? Who is that? Is someone else here with me!?”
A light thud then drummed in the air as the voice once again started to become louder. But before the owner of the voice could do anything else, she once again cried in pain.
“Why… why does it hurt when I use my pow–“
And before the voice could continue, light suddenly drowned the almost eternal darkness. The voice slightly became sedated as its owner slowly recovered her vision; her eyes fluttering carefully but hastily so that they could finally see where they were.
The owner of the voice was none other than Ms. Friday; still wearing her jet-black costume, minus her helmet that was destroyed by Riley.
“W… what? Where am I?” Ms. Friday then slowly backed away as she found herself in a cage of what seemed to be… glass. She did not panic for long, however, as she caught a glimpse of the owner of the grunt that whispered into her ears earlier.
It was true that she was not alone, as there was also another glass cage just a meter away from hers– confining a tall man that had a pair of feelers attached to his head, similar to an insect.
“You… aren’t you Shrinkrat!?” Ms. Friday then said as she slammed her fist on the glass, trying to call the attention of the tall man, “Can you… can you get us out of here!?”
The man he so desperately tried to call, however, only glance at her before turning away and showing only his back at Ms. Friday.
“Wait… Wait. Can you at least answer where–“
But before Ms. Friday could finish her words, she noticed another grunt whispering behind her. She quickly looked back, only to see a woman also wearing some sort of costume; another familiar individual.
Ms. Friday was about to transfer her attention towards the female superhero, only for her to hear another grunt…. And then another… and then another.
The grunts continued on like a ripple, whispering through her ears as she finally realized where she was. Tens? Or maybe even a hundred?
Ms. Friday’s eyes could not stop moving as they landed on each of the glass cages that surrounded her. The cages… she was sure of it– most of the ones trapped here were superheroes who have disappeared…
…taken by Darkday.
***
“What’s up, what’s up! It’s your strongest superhero that will reach the heavens here, Dragon Monarch!”
“Great… I thought you couldn’t be any more annoying.”
“Bruh, I’m recording! Now I have to do my intro all over again!”
“…Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your match?”
“It’s still a day from now. And please don’t disrupt me, I need to go live in a few minutes as soon as they arrive.”
Hannah’s eyes started to roll upon hearing Gary’s words. Gary had been tinkering and uploading videos nonstop for a full month ever since they were allowed to use phones under supervision
Gary had finally managed to hit a thousand subscribers, so he was going full blast; especially today– the students from the other Academies were arriving.
“…Do you think we will even be allowed near the gates?”
“Of course we would,” Gary smirked, “We have a tight connection with the bureau now.”
“Bu– what?”
“I mean Riley is going to be there, he’s in the Police Force, remember?”
“Right…” Hannah then let out an almost exasperated breath, “Fuck…
…Now I’m even more worried.”
***IMPORTANT***
For those wondering, I am taking a short HIATUS to make a 10-chapter privilege for the privileged readers. In the mean time, you can read ‘My Juicy System’.