If anybody from Noel's family were present, they'd have already noticed his annoyed countenance.

{Since I killed people, are you trying to say that I don't deserve happiness?}

Noel: "If such a thing makes her lose her mind then so be it. I mean, that isn't really your business, is it? Besides if you were allowed to be here then it could only mean you were acquitted. If you're told it isn't your fault by the police, then you should just listen. Nobody told him to try and rape you anyways, why don't you make an effort to move on already?"

{Ah, jeez...she looks sadder for some reason. I've never comforted somebody else before..! What should I...Ahh screw it! I'll just say something nice and escape. I don't wanna be late for class and she's safe now! The rest isn't my business!}

Noel: "Look, if you truly believed that, then why did you back away from me in fear a few seconds ago? Why did you cower when Morris approached you with the scissors? Aren't you trying to change already? If you want to keep crying over the past, then so be it, but...don't you think you've suffered enough? Didn't you come to Hero High for a reason? Then why don't you try looking up instead of down? That way, you can maybe focus on saving others from dying unjust deaths?"

Gargantuan girl: "No...I, I didn't come to be a hero I...wanted...to meet them."

Noel: "Meet who?"

Gargantuan girl: "Others...who..who wanted to..be one. A...A hero. I just wanted...to watch...or..."

…

Noel: "...You'd rather watch...as others became heroes, than to become one yourself? I don't get that logic. You're perfectly capable of defending people with those muscles, y'know?"

Gargantuan girl: "I just...can't."

It was as if something internal would continue holding her back. She needed to avoid eye contact. She had to keep denying his sympathy! Why? Because she simply didn't deserve it. Others may find such logic unreasonable, but those people are her.

Forgiveness by society is a problem she dutifully avoids. After all, how can she readily accept it when she hasn't even forgiven herself?

Noel: "Your choice I guess. I'm gonna go now. You should head inside soon! Don't you wanna make it in time for class?"

Slowly, she got up, eyeing the unconscious remains of the gang that tormented her, and damaged her hair. She walked closer to one of them, picked up the body, and...

then picked up another.

.

And another.

.

And another.

.

And another.

.

Finally, after she held every unconscious bully over her shoulder, she headed for the front door of the school.

Noel: "...What are you doing?"

Gargantuan girl: "I...I thought I should do something to help them, even if it's just going to the nurse..."

Noel: "Why? ...You know what? Forget it. I'll at least get the door for you...but jeez you're strong. Oh, wait! If you didn't come here to be a hero, then which side of the school are you taking? Sidekick courses are almost the same as-"

Gargantuan girl: "Noncombatants division."

Noel: "...I guess that...makes sense. Haha...hahaha.."

{Nobody will believe her. When she first stood up, I noticed it. This girl is HUGE! Muscle-wise, at least. She's only about over 6'5 if we're talking height...but that completely overshadows me. Honestly, I'd be scared to try and assassinate her bare-handed. How in the world did she ever manage to pass as a noncombatant?

.

.

.

Ah, wait. Yeah, that's right. If I think about it, the answer's pretty obvious. Her mentality. They must've thought she was useless if she couldn't even dodge a punch without freezing up. Then why accept her at all?}

Gargantuan girl: "M-My...my....MY NAME...!"

Her exasperated yell scared Noel into turning around. Assuming he was getting ambushed, he immediately readied a needle...only to nervously hide it before the clumsy female notices his actions.

{Dammit that scared me you stupid giant! Jeez, I almost threw it out of reflex.

Almost.

For a second I thought I was back in those times when Angelica or the 5 devils kept on trying to kill me. I have to adapt to the 'normal' pace set by the others around me. Calm down, me. Relax!}

Noel: "Hm?"

Gargantuan girl: "My name...it's Ostana...but that...isn't common here. So...umm...I...I go by Ophelia here. If I may ask...what's...your name..? Are you...planning to be...a hero too?"

Noel: "Hmm? Oh no. I'm a non-combatant, same as you. The name's Noel Tyler. Nice to meet you~"

Ophelia: "...A non-combatant? All..but-but all those people that you-"

Noel: "Did nothing to! At least not physically, since they just fell asleep after eating something I happened to drop...in their mouths..."

Ophelia: "O..kay?"

Noel: "Anyways, so it turns out we're classmates! Or, like...building-mates? I don't know how many classes there are yet haha."

Ophelia: "Yeah..."

Noel: "..."

Ophelia: "...."

Neither of them knew how to interact well with other people, so the conversation onward was just silence or cringy conversation starters.

That is until Noel mustered up enough courage to ask a question he'd been too scared to bring up.

Noel: "Say: would...you like to be friends...?"

The tall girl almost stumbled in disbelief. Like Noel, she didn't have any normal friends who she could rely on. Save for the two kids she grew up with, Ash and Priam, but they weren't allowed near her anymore.

Her face turned red and tears trickled down her blushing cheeks. She tried to hide even more behind her uneven hair, but nothing that obvious could escape his gaze.

He just...chose to pretend he didn't see anything.

Ophelia: "...Are....you sure? I'm..not scary to you? Even...even though I look like this?"

{Haha – you remind me of my uncle!}

Noel: "Of course not, ms. Ophelia. As I said before: you look beautiful as you are."

The herculean female couldn't shake her inner joy. She wiped away her tears with a smile as Noel walked ahead while kicking the door open wide enough for her and her 'luggage' to enter.

Deep down, Ophelia had a certain thought: 'With him here...maybe attending this school won't be all that bad...'

---

?: "Ms. Pigg—I-I-I mean Lady Oliviera~ Please wake up Lady Oliviera~

Oliviera: "Charleston! I told you today I am to be called 'Madame'! You're fired!!"

Charleston: "I'm sorry madame Oliviera, but this job is all I have, please don't fire me."

Oliviera: "Okay."

Charleston: "A-Already? I-I-I...mean amazing! Wonderful generosity Madame. But if I may ask..."

Oliviera: "You may speak. I'm in a really great mood today Charleston so when you talk, remember not to ruin it."

Charleston: "We-Well...If I may ask, what's got you in such a good mood?"

Oliviera: "Oh, Charleston GREAT question~ It's a piece of wonderful news! Do you remember that new high school daddy tried getting me inside by having the principal bribed? He almost got fired from Hero Society for that, right?"

Charleston: "Yes, I...vaguely remember your father's enraged face as I defended you."

Oliviera: "Thank you for that, by the way, Charleston. Anyways, As it turns out, the problem wasn't bribing it just wasn't enough money!"

Charleston: "...Are...you sure that's wise? I mean...for your father's future as a hero."

Oliviera: "Oh it's perfectly alright! The school needed funding to begin a special project where they'd also train NONCOMBATANT helpers~ And after daddy insisted on helping them fund the project...They ACCEPTED me as a member! Isn't that amazing!? Now~ I can watch all of my favorite Hero candidates IN ACTION during lunch or in classes and it's perfectly legal!"

Charleston: "Yes, very.....I am so dearly proud of you Madame Oliviera. Shall I call Rebeccah, Hannah and Savannah to share the good news?"

Oliviera: "...Charleston, you...can scratch them off from my friends list. Put them with the others...on the blacklist."

Charleston: "Huh?! Why...but madame! They were so nice to you! This is the 14th-"

Oliviera: "Charleston...! My mood is ruined! What are you going to do about it?!"

Charleston: "I am terribly sorry madame. I will fetch your favorite dessert as an apology."

Oliviera: "Thr-Three servings! Hmph!"

.

.

.

…

?: "Hehe~ She kicked you out too, huh? That Ms. Piggy."

Charleston: "Haah, hello master Oliver. To answer your question: no, well, on the premise that I bring her, her favorite ice cream. Three servings at that."

Oliver: "Ahahaha! That's my baby sis! Take good care of her though. I know she's a pain, but she's a lonely pain. Those three girls were just using her to get father's autograph, once they had that, they gave her an embarrassing roast in front of some guys she was fangirling over. They got the autograph to sell AND the boys, while ms. Piggy, received only a broken heart."

Charleston: "Should I pay for some assassins, or hitmen this time? Should they be threatened or just seriously wounded?"

Oliver: "Nothing. I want her to try growing from this experience. She can't alway suse fathers money to get her 'perfect ending', and maybe this will teach her that.

At least, I hope it will."

Charleston: "I thought it was fine since she never really knew about the threats, save for a few that she personally requested, but...if you say so. When does she begin class?"

Oliver: "Monday. She should be attending the 3rd and final class, 3-C since she was a late addition."

Charleston: "How do powerless, useless students get inside one of those Superhero high schools anyhow? It seems a bid unnecessary to me."

Oliver: "You aren't wrong, hahaha! I applied for security guard duty over at the Non-combatant building, so I did become privy to some things. Apparently, the superhero Society is working on two new projects:

One is to ensure there are actual students willing to serve the roles as 'civilians' during hero rescuing missions by offering them special perks and privileges – while the other is to 'raise' their own loyal heroes. If this first batch of students prove themselves as perfect candidates, the Society might just give them an 'artificial power vial' or APV for short, the ones they apparently announced are almost perfected by their labs thanks to the research they gathered from Professor Watts's remnant data, before that island of horror was forcefully shut down.

...Well the Malierano family supposedly helped too, nobody would tell me anything about them."

Charleston: "Ohhh! So then, lady Oliviera-"

Oliver: "Yep. That's the real reason dad agreed to her proposal of entering that school of future heroes. Not because of her dream to drool over every superhero candidate she's been fangirling over recently, but because this may very well be the true start of her future as a hero, instead of a fat, lazy slob."

---