Ian: “Here’s the ma-- ah! Speaking of which, Noel! Are we really supposed to research humans, or are we actually just trying to help you adapt to Herotopia? Because I feel like one school’s measly campus isn’t enough.”

Elijah, “I sort of agree. We could try to get you used to ca,pus life, but we’re both first years ourselves! There really isn’t much we can help you with, that we aren’t curious about ourselves. Sorry in advance if we aren’t that helpful.”

Noel: “...Haaah. I’m the one that should apologize. I wanted to do this project ALONE because 1) I didn’t wish to disturb anybody else’s studying. 2) It’s my personal problem that needs fixing, err, ‘adjusting’ is actually a better word for it…

and 3) It’s because this personal problem of mine is embarrassing. I want to improve my communication skills with other people. I’ve been ………Home-schooled, almost my entire life. I’m not really ‘good’ at having friendly conversations, you know. Only how to protect myself with words.”

Elijah: “Oh, I see. That would explain why you were originally averse to our coming along, right?”

Noel: “Wh-What are you saying? I already told you that I actually like you both co-”

Elijah: “…*Stare*”

Noel: “...Okay. Yeah, you’re completely right. It was my idea after all. Why drag people down with my selfish need when you all could be studying. And since our schedule is full now and we’re basically dorm imprisoned, this ‘free period’ is logically speaking, my only chance to learn how to talk to people.”

Ian: “I…”

Elijah: “But you definitely spoke fine when you introduced yourself. And you were also pretty great back at the assembl—oh. Oh, so - THAT’S what you meant by ‘knowing how to defend yourself with your words.”

Noel: “It’s natural to want to protect yourself when encountering a large group of strangers staring right at you or criticizing you. Both cases followed this type of situation. In reality though, I’m no better at ‘hanging out’ with others than Ophelia or Rise are. Even Aria probably has more experience with friendship than I do.”

Elijah: “(How depressing. And strange…) So your parents… oh, I’m sorry, you had someone pick you up right? Then the man that adopted you is a helicopter parent, right?”

Noel: “Helicopter parent? What’s that?”

Ian: “I...”

Elijah: “Ah, that’s right. You wouldn’t know. It’s an overprotective parent to the point that their love feels a tad suffocating. They adamantly oversee and dictate their children’s everyday lives, especially in their school life. This includes their social interactions. Helicopter Parents are called this because like helicopters, they ‘hover overhead’ of their child’s everyday life. Of course, I don’t think being overprotective is necessarily a BAD thing. Especially in dangerous areas or during dangerous times.”

Noel: “Oh, I see-!”

Ian: “I understand…! I totally understand! It feels almost the same as when you spend most of your life studying and can’t spare much time for social interacting, save those times when you were actually forced to learn how to defend yourself against bullying. So when the moment arrives where you finally want to communicate with other people in a non-headbutting and unconfrontational sort of way… you’re too socially awkward and don’t know what to do! Am I right? Close, even?!”

Noel: “...Yes. You are very close, actually. I’m… kinda surprised, hehe.”

Elijah: “That is troublesome. Why don’t you just be honest with others? That usually helps me.”

Noel: “My honesty turned the whole school against me.”

Elijah: “…”

Noel: “We’ve been walking for quite a while now. 6 minutes I think? According to my internal clock.”

Elijah: “*Checks * Oh, you’re right! How accurate! That’s pretty cool.”

Noel: “Hehehe, I trained it.”

{In life or death struggles.}

Elijah: “I… see. (What a weird thing to train. Oh well, it’s very useful in any case.)”

Ian: “Why waste time training your internal clock when you could just buy a watch? How stupid.”

Noel: “…”

Elijah: “Ian! That was uncalled for! And where did the rude response come from?”

Ian: “Didn’t you JUST say that being honest can help with making friends? Well, I have the same problem as Noel, so this little ‘research project’ of his can help me too!”

Elijah: “But being rude with people is always counter-productive to befriending them. At least, there isn’t any reason to call somebody stupid. That’s really mean.”

Ian: “…”

Noel: “Watches can break, you know? And also, there DOES exist technology that interferes with other forms of technology by disrupting their operational capabilities and even sapping the energy from their battery sources. If that happens, and both cell phones and watches become useless - in fact, if somebody with technology controlling capabilities directly makes all forms of technology in our possession useless, what will the two of you do at that time? How will you know how long you’ve been hiding from him or her, what time of day it is or how long they’ve been busy intruding? Hm? For detectives, such things are important clues.”

Elijah: “...I… don’t know, actually. What would I do in that moment? (Without my powers, to boot.) Hm…”

Ian: “...Fair point. But why would any of that be necessary for us? We’re not detectives.”

Noel: “Having knowledge is often better than not having. This is one of those skills that you’re generally better off having.”

Ian: “I...see.”

Noel: “It’s useful for survival moments also. Telling the time that’s already passed is incredibly useful for survival. And figuring out the time of day is kind of necessary if we want to pass Survival Sunday—erm. Nevermind.”

{You’ll both find out eventually.}

Elijah: “? Did you say something at the end? You spoke far to softly and the wind is picking up. I couldn’t hear.”

Noel: “...Nothing. What should we do- I mean, where should we go? Ian, you choose. We’ll improve our social skills together!”

Elijah: “I also don’t mind where we go. Besides, Ian, you have the map.”

Ian: “I don’t really mind either way… but sure! Hrmmm. Let’s see… there are about a hundred buildings within a radius around our school building for Non – Combatants, a really large lake, some hills and rivers, and three small wooded zones that can easily qualify as miniature forests. Probably growing some weird school projects inside, I suppose. There’s a giant waterfall made by students close by too, but it seems like visiting there at this time of day is not really smart, since it’s… kind of cold. How about we all go check out the detective club’s room? This school let’s prominent and promising students form a club and build a ‘club room’ after they formed a club. Of course, they need either an adult teacher to oversee their club or they need a 5th year student to remain in charge and make regular reports to the student council of our school. This club is newly formed, but… aren’t either of you curious about these recent events? I mean, I’ve heard… both of you at separate occasions talking with Reggie, Fana or Eren about the giant gargoyle thing. if you’re both doing your own investigations, then… why don’t we all figure it out together?”

Elijah: “But Ian, didn’t you not like speaking about this matter? I thought you always avoided it because we ‘can’t do anything anyways’…? We can choose someplace else to visit if it bothers you. There’s no need to go out of your way for us.”

Noel: “I don’t mind either way. It’s fine if we go and fine if we don’t go.”

Ian: “*Clenches fists in determination* No, I really don’t mind! I… the truth is that I was still scared. But I’m over it now! Ophelia and I both… have resolved ourselves to move past that day, and try to grow from it. There will come a day that we can’t run away anymore. If that happens, then covering our ears now will NOT help us at all. We… want to grow stronger. In our own ways, at least. Haha. I’m still not crazy about close fighting, but I’ll try to improve my gadgets somehow...although I never learned how to make weapons – there isn’t much difference with my tech and some student – made weaponry.”

Eljah “...Ian, forgive me for asking, but… why, ARE you in the non – combatant’s division of Hero High School? Your tech isn’t bad, which leads me to believe that you, you have super - intelligence , don’t you?”

Ian: “…The truth is, My mother is one of the leading 21 scientists of this world’s Global Technological Defense Association or GTDA. All things involving Technology for Super Heroes, Super powered Military and general living facilities are made by them first and foremost. Such things they specialize in includes high tech gear, weapons, living facilities for heroes and super soldiers gadgets for critical moments, suits of armor specially prepared for taking on Super – powered beings, Anti magic equipment that strictly blends magic and technology together, you name it, and they’ve made it.

My mother… She is the leading scientist from France. The other 21 come from different countries: China, America, Russia, Japan, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Australia, Finland, New Zealand, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Singapore and finally there’s Herotopia – the literal Utopia for Super powered humans and future Heroes alike. Originally the countries banded together at the supposed ‘Global Threat’ the nation of Heroes was acclaimed to be, after every countries super powered beings escaped the their homelands’ monopoly and joined Herotopia’s ‘Hero Society’. But after this year, they finally accepted Herotopia as an official country worthy of joining the association. After so many years of distrust...”

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