Principal Leyman: “...It's fine. She's a tough adversary and I've already introduced you. Just standing there and smiling is more than enough for them to feel satisfied. Eventually they will let up, I guara-”

Noel: “No. They just keep talking and dragging this on. Plus, some of them are *snatches mic* being annoying on purpose.”

Betty: “See! SHE knows how to rock them, Ahahaha!”

Cassandra: “It's... hard..for me to bully.... such a little kid...”

Betty: “Nope, it's not. Watch: HEY DIPSHIT! If you don't wanna get crushed by falling rubble or some careless hero recruit, then hurry and go home! Now! Or else don't blame any of us for what happens!”

Xano: “Hehehehehe, man this is really too good! Go home loser! You're just a useless, spineless waste of oxygen!”

Realist female student: “Go home! Go home! We don't have time to waste babysitting you!”

Realist male student: “Get outta here! Help us? Ha! You'll only be in the way!”

A few students tried to defend every non-combatant's right to attend, thoroughly relaying the multitude of benefits having them included into the school campus would bring, but these few were clearly in the minority.

And all the while, the biased reporter busily awaiting her slanderous 'Big Scoop!' felt nothing but pure elation with this turnout. It seems she hadn't been the only one waiting for a chance to strike today!

So were the hard-liners of the realist faction! Some teachers could clearly be seen egging certain groups of students on. It seemed they had all reached the same, conclusion: That 7th grade brat was the perfect weakness to exploit! Targeting him may prove to shake those money-throwing Dreamer faction fools awake, and snap them all right back into reality! The Non-combatant division as a whole is an obvious waste of time, effort and money! It HAS to go – this shall not be thwarted!

Succeeding the first wave of discouragement – and treating the small, and seemingly meek, freshman as their long – awaited incentive, more and more people began shouting 'go home' in hopes of attacking a newly germinated weak - link while he was still being served to them as fresh meat; free to pick apart, piece by piece.

…

Alyandrea: “...They're tearing him apart! I'm... kind of glad I wasn't chosen...”

Elijah: “You and me both. Still. If I can, I'd like to help.”

Rise: “...Hmph! Realist heroes...They sound more like villains. The TRUE heroes are all being drowned out. Pathetic. Even if you know it's an act, they still can't hide their sheer excitement and animosity that comes together with the thought of picking on somebody weaker than them.”

Ian: “...Friggin' pack mentality. That's why I didn't want to go up there. It's almost like a modern jungle...The real concrete jungle.”

Aria: “I believe in Noel, I believe in Noel...I..”

Aria began chanting her own prayer for Noel fiercely...repetitively... frantically, but in response to that, Ophelia placed a single palm over her trembling hands while shaking her head back and forth.

Ophelia: “There's no need for any of that. Try to calm down, Aria.”

Aria: “...Yes... Yes I should calm down, shouldn't I? Heheh, I can't handle stressful situations well. Not at all...”

Ophelia: “You did well before and you're doing fine now.”

Aria: “There's...There's just too many people..”

Ophelia: “...Anyway. Noel will also be fine. I know it.”

Ian: “Nnngraah! You keep SAYING that! Just how do you know exactly?! How?! That's called giving false HOPE! HE'S PROBABLY A NERVOUS WRECK BY NOW!!”

She only smiled in response. As if expecting something to happen soon, she looked towards the stage.

And of course, Noel didn't let her down.

………

Ms. Grover(Reporter): “Haaah, a pity. I so wanted to take a piece from that former king, or prince or whatever. Oh well, I guess I'll make do with th-”

Noel: “Ah--Ahem!”

The moment this middle schooler cleared his throat: everyone quieted down within seconds. Couldn't he see the situation? Unless he was going to immediately announce plans to transfer to another school, they were going to shut him up faster than a rocket breaking through the sound barrier.

Noel: “Isn't everyone here being a little too...cocky?

You're just a bunch of kids without any genuine experience defeating a villain. Why do you assume that you deserve to be here any more than I do?”

Random student #1: “We let you talk and THAT'S what you have to say?! Go back to standing quietly in a corner!”

Random student #16: “Hey! Don't assume you know anything you fricken' preschooler! I helped Mister MAGNUS himself during a fight against a villain!!”

Random student #17: “My~ how amazing~”

Random student #18: “WOAH-Hoho! Amazing, man! What was it like?”

Random student #19: “Bah! Big deal. I helped Ms. Snow Angel. SHE actually spoke to me.”

Random student #22: “Well I-”

Noel: “Who cares? And? I bet they only gave you some flattering words of appreciation before sending you away to either 'assist' by evacuating people, or evacuate yourselves...am I wrong? I can't be: because that's regulation for all heroes to do.”

Random student #22: “...”

Random student #17: “O-Obviously... You... you are...wrong...”

Random student #19: “May...Maybe.”

Random female student #2: “What does it even matter? Helping is still helping!”

Random student #17: “Y-Yeah! He appreciated my help! They appreciate us!”

Noel: “Pfffft! Appreciate you?! Ahahaha, don't you get why you were all sent to assist in evacuation only? No matter how good you THINK you are, in their eyes, you're no more than a liability: another reckless body to protect. It's just common procedure to send the dead weight away.”

……

---

Elijah: “...Hey.. Ophelia. Is... is this what you meant when... when you said that he'll be alright..? He's... certainly alright, in a way, but...”

Ophelia: “...Yes. I think.”

Aria: “G...Good luck Noel...e-ehehe...”

……

Random student #46: “Wha-?! DEAD WEIGHT?! Who the hell is DEAD WEIGHT?! I'm not dead weight!!”

Random male student #3: “Peace~ Everyone peace~ He's only ridiculing you back because you ridiculed him first-”

Random male student #2: “There's no way in hell that I can have peace with this middle-grade munchkin calling me weak! Calling us ALL weak!”

……

Ian: “...Why is he antagonizing them?”

Rise: Hahahaha! Good, good! Make them feel like shit for what they said! I'd have done the same thing, too!”

Brennan: “Huh. I thought it was strange.”

Oliviera: “What... his obvious change in personality?!”

Brennan: “No... Well, yes, but not in the sense that he was quiet or timid - but suddenly now he's laughing in all their faces.

The opposite actually, it's the reverse. We started off by me and him butting heads over his height.”

Ian: “Maybe he has insecurity over his height? I mean look around. Isn't everyone taller than he is?”

Aria: “Good l-.........”

Ophelia: “...”

Wayne: “...*Cough* Cough*.”

Ian: “What?”

Brennan: “...Um...uh.... how do I say this...?”

Oliviera: “Not everybody's you.”

Alyandrea: “”Everyone” is taller than him? I don't think YOU should be pointing that out.”

Elijah: “Be nice, Aly. Ian, we know what you meant. So don't feel bad. It just took a second to register your words as being about Noel, and not yourself.”

Ian: “...”

Mr. Reeds: “Don't feel ashamed, boy. It's useful being short at times. There are some things only people at your height can do.”

Aria: “I-It's okay to be small!”

Ophelia: “You're perfectly fine the way you are.”

Ian: “Why is this suddenly a conversation about me?”

...

Noel: “Hmm. How else can I rephrase what I'm trying to say? To that cheerleader in the back: I'll counter your point with a point of my own.

If I get injured or die here, due to the carelessness of you 'future heroes' not doing your jobs properly: then none of you deserve to be in this school.”

Random Student #5: “Haha! He's angry!”

Cheerleader #3(Betty): “Well, he's got good eyesight, if nothing else. Ahahaha!”

A round of laughter began once again.

And finally, the brittle strands of patience Noel clung desperately to in order to maintain his calm, began to snap.

Noel: “Haah, and here I am trying to be nice. Don't you fools get it yet? I'm saying, that my life is more important than yours.”

.

.

.

All laughter took a sharp dive at the end of his speech.

…

Principal Leyman: “...Mr. Abrams, when he signed up, the receptionist mentioned him being all smiles. A very polite and selfless-seeming boy. I understand that his family is very rich, but...he couldn't be a spoiled brat, could he?”

Mr. Abrams: “You and her both got duped. This boy is a bundle of pride underneath that fake smile. He must've picked it up from the idiot giggling behind that tree over there.”

Aeron: “Mhmhmhmhmhm...Hmhmhmhmhm...haha...hehehehe! Little Ty, little Ty! This is one habit you did NOT pick up from me. I have a more passive style~ If I had to guess: it was either from Angelica, or one of those 'Sei' brothers. Mother Naosuke would've slapped him if she heard this, most likely while yelling something along the lines of: 'What part of announcing that your life is more important than theirs, IS KEEPING A LOW PROFILE?!' Hehehe. I've gotta text Angelica about this.”

Mr. Abrams: “...”

Aeron: “By the way, Mr. Abrams. I know that you're watching~ and I know that YOU KNOW that I know. As I just mentioned, I never taught him to speak like that. I have a silver tongue, not a sharp one.”

Mr. Abrams: “...”

Principal Leyman: “D-Did you just have a conversation with him? What did he say?”

Mr. Abrams: “...Haah. He refuses to take responsibility. Should I step forward and stop this from getting any worse..?”

Principal Leyman: “No, you can't! If you do that, she'll think she beat me!!”

Mr. Abrams: “...Dare I ask, who?”

Principal Leyman: “That stupid reporter, THAT'S who!”

Mr. Abrams: “Principal Leyman...

Should... we really care about her opinion at this point..?”

…

Noel: “Can't you all use your brains? Sheesh, pitiful students must have equally pitiful teachers~ If any of you fail to protect me: You all fail as heroes. You automatically become worthless pieces of shit who'd be better off dropping out right now, rather than actually failing to save a real 12 year old in danger out on the streets.”

Principal Leyman: “...Maybe, maybe he can speak for just a little bit longer?”

Realist Male student: “What the hell did you say you little brat?! You're just a fucking middle schooler, you don't know anything about the real world. Keep-”

Realist female student: “Why are you even entertaining him? The sooner he finishes rambling the sooner we get to move on.”

---

Principal Leyman: "Maybe just a little--"

Ms. Grover(Reporter): “You aren't too appreciative of others' kindness, boy. Can't you see they're trying to save your life? By driving you away-”

Noel: “Hahahaha! I've heard enough of that sugarcoated nonsense already, old lady. It's pointless.”

Reporter: “...Did you just--”

?: “You really shouldn't antagonize everybody.”

Elijah: “...! That voice...!”

Oliviera: “It's...Oh my god - It's the Hasty Queen!”

Elijah: “...Hasty...Queen?”

Random student #6: “Hasty Queen...it's the hasty Queen!”

Random Student #7: “And look behind her...It's the 10 Generational leaders themselves! Why are they here?”

?: “And here I thought we'd get to see the choked-up Prince. All we get instead, is a brainless brat.”

?: “Not nice, speedy.”

?: “If you're gonna shorten my kingly title, at least use Sonic. Or Speed King. You bird brain.”

?: “*Yawns* Hey, dad~”

Mr. Abrams: “...”

Bird Brain?: “Crows are one of the smartest animals on earth: incomparable to hedgehogs and rats. Speed is useless with pitiful control like yours, Pitiful King. And unlike my maiden sisters who have gained the privilege of calling me Kari, YOU must call me Valkyrie captain. Not any other title."

Speedy: “Crows aren't the only birds out there. Don't forget the Dodo's.”

Kari: “...Has super-speed rendered your brain into mush? That's a myth. Dodos were at least as smart as pigeons. Unlike-”

Noel: “Who cares?”

Kari: “...”

Speedy: “Say that again.”

Noel: “Okay.”

Without warning he jumped off the stage, and approached the closest Generation leader – which happened to be Mr. Speedy himself.

Noel: “Who cares about what kind of animal you both are? Rats, birds... go play in a pet shop or something. I don't like being interrupted by a pair of idiots that don't know their place.”

Reporter: “Hohohohoho! “Know their place...? Shouldn't you be the one doing that, little o--”

?: “Noel, right?”

Reporter: "Hey!"

Suddenly, a large muscular brute with a bodybuilder's frame made his way through the Kings and Queens. Stubble coated his chin but not his upper lip. It appeared to be a matching pair to the close cut hair he sported. His name was Harvey.

Harvey: “Miss Hasty Queen gave you some sound advice. Weren't you listening? If not, then I'll happily reiterate it for you. You have no strength. No skills, and obviously no brains for picking a fight with all of us. We protect you, but only if we feel like it. We don't have to. We could just go save someone else. I wonder what would happen if I were to let you get crushed by a building during practice? I may get in trouble, but you will lose your life.”

Noel: “And the moment you do such a thing, that will be the moment you serve to prove my point: That you're just a wannabe pretending to be a hero who doesn't deserve to be here. After all, heheh, what Hero blatantly threatens the innocent, harmless civilian they've sworn to protect, by claiming they'd let us all die? How pathetic!”

Harvey immediately thrust his fist forward in a bout of absolute rage. Veins clearly both pulsating and swelling simultaneously, while his overgrown body trembled with violent fervor.

Beneath him?

This...Middle Schooler? He's just asking to get beat!

He's the one who doesn't understand! He's nothing! So long as you're a hero, the world will do whatever you say, even if it means covering up stuff like this! Even if it means forgiving him!

Such a world as this one depends far too highly on heroes to antagonize them all for little things like this! And Heroes ALWAYS fight with civilians. He's seen it first hand!

Noel: “Ah – Ah. If you hurt me, You become a villain~”

...And Harvey's fist stopped dead in its tracks. Such woeful frustration!

Noel turned without granting Harvey a second glance, and walked around while facing the now silent audience.

Noel: “Oh! Heheh! How could I ever forget about everyone~ This includes the rest of the school as well! I'll break it down even further for you.

If I'm hurt because of your carelessness, you students become automatic flunkees. Why? Because you can't be trusted with the VERY role most important to a hero: Protecting my life.

If A student fails to save me or winds up hurting me, YOU all lose EACH and EVERY one of you! If a student becomes a failure, then your TEACHERS by default all become failures! Haha! Shouting at me to go home? Why should I? Telling me that I'm not wanted? So what? Am I supposed to care about that?”

Cheerleader: “...He's...sorta like a chihuahua.”

Cheerleader #3(Betty): “Pffft Hahaha!”

Aria: “Noel!! Stop antago-mwmff!”

Ian: “Shhh!! Don't make US get caught up in his mess! If he get's picked on, then that's troublesome. But at LEAST we're free to help get Mr. Abrams! If ALL of us get picked on, then I'm afraid it's game over.”

Noel: “Eheheh~

…

Ah.

I forgot something! Elijah said I was supposed to do a self introduction! Let me try to introduce myself, now that everybody's quieted down a little bit.”

As if having reached the climax of a scripted play, Noel makes his way to the center directly in between the stage and first row of students, then he slightly bows to the enraged, yet silent crowd.

Noel: “Hello everyone! I am the temporary Class Representative of Class 3-C. My Name is Noel Tyler, age 12 years old... and honestly? I don't think any of you are worthy of becoming a Hero if you complain about saving a mere 12 year old weakling like me. I am fully aware of what risks I take in coming here, But... can the same be said about all of you?

In this Chessboard of a castle you call 'school': I am the King. Every non-combatant is either a King or queen. Furthermore, just like in chess – if you fail to protect us – it's game over for your futures~ Thank you, for your time!”

Kari: “...Why aren't you letting us speak? We could easily shut him up and-”

Hasty Queen: “...They were only the mere words of a weakling. Why should whatever that thing says be our concern? If he lives, so be it. But if he dies? Then he has only himself to blame for speaking up. Those with power, always dictate the actions of mere weaklings... that boy will learn, soon enough. Let his actions prove whether or not the words he speaks today, will hold true weight within Hero High school.”

Without nary another word, all 10 turned around and left.

.

.

Well, almost without another word...

?: “Bye random chihuahua kid~ Bye dad!!”

Hasty Queen: “....”

Harvey: “...”

People were confused at first.

Why was the Hasty queen just leaving after that brat went ahead and talked so much trash?

Then, somebody made a simple guess.

Curious girl: “Maybe she got scared of her uncontrollable anger that was about to reach the max point of her fury?”

It was a harmless little guess: An innocent one.

Angry Hasty Queen fan: “Oh Gods above, THAT MUST BE IT!”

Hasty Queen: “...”

Angry Hasty Queen Fan #2: “Just look at those straightened lips on her serious face! It totally OOZES her boundless FURY!”

Hasty Queen: “...*Touches her lips*...”

Angry Hasty Queen Fan #3: “Despicable...truly DESPICABLE! For his dagger - like speeches to make her resort to her amazing acting skills...ALL so that she doesn't hurt him, a civilian! *Sniff* It's unbelievably cruel! I believe it was Harvey's monumentous show of willpower that inspired the battle maiden to hold herself back.”

Impressed Hasty Queen Fan #4: “The birth... this is... THIS IS THE BIRTH OF THE RAGE QUEEN!! Oh, my... Oh my freaking goodness I cannot believe-”

Mr. Abram's son: “Rage Queen...heheh. Everything you do impresses them~”

Rage Queen: “...Shut up.”

…

Principal Leyman: “Ha... ahahaha! That's...Well, this is the conclusion of the introductions for our non-combatant's division! Please give a round of... no? Okay. Hahaha..... Anyways...! I would like to thank each and everyone of you for coming here today. Parents may stay behind and watch their kids fight or compete in sports if you'd like. Kids... well, good luck to you all. As freshman Hero and Sidekick division students, competing today is mandatory for everyone, there will be no exceptions!”

---