An Undead Academic Experience 5

Chapter 5: Studies

<<<Xiao ‘Lily’ Lang>>>

The entire test was something of a bore for Xiao, aside from doing some interesting things with her Necroflame and experimenting, she didn’t do much of anything. She hated how insanely dangerous her quirk was, and honestly, outside of tricks, making that cold mist, she wasn’t sure if there were any other avenues she could investigate.

Maybe temperature manipulation? Hell, maybe she could pull off cryomancy like that Taiwanese Pro-Hero Sub-Zero! That’d be cool.

… or ask Todoroki for tips because wow, he was strong with that ice of his! Though she also could admit he’s a dick, while his opening move was amazing, it was hilariously overkill and denied his partner or the opposing team from showing their stuff.

Though seeing him shiver made her wonder why, if he had an ice quirk, then his body should have the associated mutations to handle extreme temperatures. Well, it wasn’t any of her business, honestly, she’d just leave that to the staff to straighten out.

She was a student after all, it’s not her job to straighten out her peers' baggage.

Kana was feigning a nap in the corner, but it was impossible to miss her eyes tracking the room; like a mouse trapped in a cage… or a cat watching mice, it was hard to tell which.

Honestly, it, well, it didn’t make her worry or even really concern her. However, it did tug at half-remembered things she read in an Introduction to Psychology book she’d read a year ago. Something about different personality types and how they processed emotions? She couldn’t recall exactly, but she remembered enough to know that Kana was going to have a difficult time relating to people.

Though she seemed to get along with others well enough, so she didn’t feel like she should poke her nose into it. Would she help Kana out if asked? Of course, but she wasn’t going to put her nose into business not her own.

“Who’s next?” Xiao asked curiously as she fiddled with the hem of her skirt, absentmindedly making a note to have it switched with pants. Or at least get herself some biker shorts, the Support company went all in with sex appeal with her costume… not that she was the only one.

“Ochaku and Midoriya as heroes, Tenya and Bakugo as villains,” Asui said, “Wait, don’t Bakugo and Midoriya not like each other, kero?”

“Honestly, I think it’s largely one-sided,” Xiao said, “You’ve seen how aggressive Bakugo is, and how he went to attack Midoriya when he finished the ball throw. And how Midoriya reacted? Doesn’t say anything good,” She added.

“I wasn’t informed of that…” All Might said, frowning, “I will be sure to jump in as soon as needed, perhaps after the last day their tempers have cooled?”

Xiao shrugged and accepted it, “Maybe…” It wasn’t unheard of after all.

But as she watched the screen with Bakugo and Tenya, Tenya was trying to make a plan while Bakugo ignored him and just paced like a wild animal. No, something wasn’t right, and Xiao doubted it was anything like Exam jitters.

Then the explosions started, perhaps inevitably so with Bakugo’s quirk. The girl was literally explosive.

“Actually, is she on a list because of her quirk?” She wasn’t all read up on the Japanese law system, but being a walking bomb factory is a security concern, isn’t it?

“She’s heading straight for Midoriya,” Xiao commented.

“She’s the better one for it…” Momo said, though her heart wasn’t really in it, “They’re both brawlers…”

“It doesn’t look like a case of efficiency,” Xiao said as she bit her lip, “Bakugo is acting like a wild dog…” An explosive personality with an equally explosive quirk, fate certainly had a twisted sense of humor it seemed.

“... she isn’t using her quirk…” Kana mumbled, “Damages her… too much energy recoil. Needs training to deal with it…”

Xiao nodded in agreement as she watched the two brawlers clash, it was obvious to everyone that Bakugo was the aggressor and Midoriya wasn’t. Pity there was no sound, otherwise they'd have had more context, no doubt. But if she were a gambler, she’d put money on some unresolved personal issues of some sort.

“Young Bakugo! Don’t do that! You could kill her!” All Might exclaimed over the radio.

Bakugo replied, not that they could hear, and it didn’t please All Might, seeing as he disappeared in a burst of speed.

Xiao looked to Momo, “I don’t think she cared about killing Midoriya.”

Then the tower exploded from Midoriya’s attack and things got complicated.

[hr][/hr]

The rest of the tests went smoothly, more or less, and after returning their costumes and changing back into their UA uniforms, school went on like normal. Math class, English, and so on. Honestly after you got over the whole “Heroes are Teachers” thing, UA was just like any other high school, only with a specialized course.

So after their last class ended, and they were swapping their shoes at the shoe locker, Xiao looked at Kana, who was reading a physics textbook she’d taken from the school library. “So, whatcha planning to do after school?” She asked.

“... I was going to get a meal,” She replied, “I was… thinking of inviting Izuki and you.”

“That sounds nice. I didn’t have anything planned for myself.” Well, other than maybe hitting the gym and playing with her quirk at that quarry, “You feeling ramen or something else?”

“Maybe… ask Izuki?” Kana asked with a shrug. “I… should look into how her… quirk functions. Might be… recoil based, late bloomers have… that problem, sometimes. I had it…”

“Okay,” Xiao said before looking at Izuki, “Yo! You wanna get something to eat with me and Kana?” She asked as she approached the living broccoli girl.

“Oh, um… sure!” She replied with a wide, if nervous, smile, “But I need to tell my mom too, um… and I don’t have my home phone number… eheh…” Scratching at her back of her head sheepishly, she continued, “So, um, I can show you the way to my house and then she can take us somewhere?”

Kana’s head tilted slightly. “She… can come along with us…” She started, staring into Izuki’s eyes, “If you want her to…”

“I don’t mind?” Izuki replied as she scratched her cheek.

Xiao tilted her own head. “You can relax, if you do mind, we won’t be mad,” She said, “Just what did she experience to shred her confidence like this?” Though she had a feeling that a certain Bomberanian was involved.

“Let’s go then…” Kana mumbled, turning and moving to leave, heading towards the train station.

Xiao just snickered before she patted Izuki. “Come on, before she gets on the wrong train or something,” She said with a smile.

Izuki just gave a shaking smile before they hurried after Kana.

[hr][/hr]

It didn’t take long at all to get Inko’s, and she’d insisted on being called such, permission to take her daughter out for a meal. Nor to get her to come along, she was fascinated by her daughter having friends, it seemed. Which… didn’t say good things, admittedly, but it was adorable.

Though Xiao could honestly say that ‘Mamadoriya’, as she playfully called her, was an absolute treat, she’d never seen a more motherly woman that wasn’t her actual mother or grandmother.

“So, you two are in Izuki-chan’s class?” Inko asked.

“Yep,” Xiao said, “Never seen someone filled with so much Hero trivia or quirk knowledge,” She added, making Izuki blush at the praise.

“Well, I’m just glad she’s making friends there,” Inko continued, twirling a fork in her pasta with her quirk, “Is there anyone that’s caught her attention in a different way?~”

“Mom…” Izuki whined, burying her face in her hands, “Please don’t embarrass me in front of my friends.”

“Well, I won’t name names, but there is a girl from the countryside that might be sweet on her,” Xiao said with a grin, “Though she might want to stake her claim, she is adorable, Mamadoriya,” She teased.

Izuki’s head met the table without force, the girl whining in mortification.

“How… is your meal, Inko?” Kana asked, seemingly in an attempt to save Izuki from more teasing. “It is not… high end, but I… like this place.”

“It’s wonderful, thank you for inviting me,” Inko said with a smile before she looked at Xiao, “Though could you please not tease my daughter too much? She’s sensitive.”

“Fine, but just to clarify I wasn’t teasing. I was being completely honest,” Xiao said, “About her being adorable, that is. I was teasing about snatching her up.”

“That’s good, I’d hate to find my ex’s old shovel…” Inko’s voice was dangerous, even if her grin spoiled it a bit. “And-oh my, that is quite the large carrot cake.”

“Wait- carrot cake?” Xiao looked and saw- “Rumi! I didn’t expect to see you here!”

“Oh, it’s you…” The pro hero sighed, her cake having a giant ‘3’ on top, likely for her three year anniversary of being the top female hero. “How was your schoolday? Kana didn’t hurt anyone?””

“Pretty good actually, and she didn’t,” Xiao said, “Though we might’ve spooked some of our classmates. We’re actually getting a meal with one of them and her mom.”

“Well, that’s good,” Rumi snorted, “You their guardian or just the broccoli’s?”

Inko looked at her for a moment before grinning, “Why don’t you sit with us?” She asked with a hungry grin, “Your table seems pretty empty, and eating alone is pretty boring…”

Xiao leaned to Kana, “I think Mamadoriya saw something she liked.”

Rumi didn’t seem to know how to react, but the staff didn’t seem to care as they moved her cake over to the empty seat; Inko grinning in victory.

Izuki, however, was busy trying to process what her mom just did to geek out over the fact that a Pro Hero was about to sit with them. Xiao was just smiling, and Kana was watching with detached interest for a few moments before returning her focus to her food.

Inko’s flirting did not stop for even a moment, and Rumi was getting more and more flustered with every passing second.

“Seems like the Baddest Bunny has a weakness for genuine flirting,” Xiao noted with some amusement, but then again, Rumi’s probably had too many ass kissers and brown nosers, so it was not surprising she’s weak to genuine flirting.

She had to bite the inside of her cheek to tease Izuki about her mom trying to get her a second one. It was neither the time nor the place for it, also she was pretty sure Rumi would send her through the wall. 

Laws be damned.

The conversation devolved from there.

And, honestly, Xiao didn’t mind in the slightest.

[hr][/hr]

“So, Izuki. Would you mind if Kana and I helped you out with your quirk?” Xiao asked after a lull in the conversation.

“Um, uh… s-sure?” Izuki said.

Rumi’s ear twitched as she looked over, “Something wrong with the kit’s quirk?” She asked.

“Pretty sure she’s a late bloomer like me.” Xiao said, “She seems to have a very bad problem with recoil.”

“Ah,” Rumi replied, “Probably just means you need to work out more. And use your quirk more, just for little things.”

Xiao thought about the explosive force Izuki showed at the Quirk Apprehension Test and then at the Battle trials, “Hmm, yeah… that’s going to be a challenge maybe.”

“Hmm?” Inko tilted her head, “Actually Izuki never told me what her quirk is.”

Izuki just looked like a deer in headlights.

“From what I could tell? Some sort of strength enhancer.” Xiao said, “But well…”

“... Please use your quirk now…” Kana requested, eyes half lidded.

“B-But…” Izuki stammered.

“It’s okay, Kit, it’s under supervision.” Rumi said, “Just focus on that feeling, but don’t release it okay?” Xiao didn’t know if she was offering legit advice or was just pulling it out of her ass, but it sounded good to her.

“Just take a deep breath and concentrate.” Xiao said, “Don’t make any sudden moves, just let the feeling fill you, okay?”

“... move however you like, I will keep you from being harmed…” Kana mumbled, watching bubbles flow through her soda, stopping them at random out of seeming boredom. “I have a quirk… for this…”

“Well, you heard the lady,” Xiao said with a shrug, “But still, take your time.”

Izuki just squirmed for a few more minutes before closing her eyes and focusing, and like during the QAT her sleeve started ripping but nothing more. She didn’t dare move, no doubt remembering the consequences her quirk had on her body.

Rumi just eyed her for a few minutes, “Well, I’m no Quirk councilor or anything but I think you need some more physical conditioning.” She said, “Whatever plan you were on wasn’t bad, but isn’t enough. What happened when you used it?”

“Uhh…” She coughed, “I… broke my arm…”

“... Yeah. You’re going to up your physical conditioning by a lot,” Rumi said, “Kit, I’m not your teacher or guardian. But my advice is either figure out how to not use that power all in one place, or start living in the gym and eating a protein-heavy diet.”

“... you may also wish… to lower how much you use…” Kana mumbled, “I’m draining it as fast as I can, and it's still… causing minor muscle damage. Like… what working out does…”

“What?” Izuki asked.

“I think what Kana is saying is that when you use your quirk, you go from zero to a hundred instantly,” Xiao said, “And that’s what’s doing the damage.”

“Oh, uh…” Izuki’s face screwed up in focus, “It’s… really hard to visualize it.”

“Uh, just visualize it like… adjusting the radio! You got to slowly adjust the dial until you get the station you want,” Xiao said, honestly it sounded better than the microwave visualization she initially thought of.

“And… spread it out…” Kana mumbled, “Then… keep it active all the time… until you’re exhausted. Every day until you can keep it going permanently.”

“Like… making an egg in the microwave, you have to slowly adjust it so it doesn’t explode,” Izuki mumbled, and Xiao would’ve sweatdropped if this was anime.

“... Well, if that works for you I guess…” Xiao glanced saw even Rumi and Inko were giving Izuki mildly concerned looks.

Who visualized something like that?

“... not the worst visualization…” Kana mumbled, “I used a cat once…”

And then those looks were given to Kana, but Rumi’s only lasted until some realization dawned on her.

“... it was good for balance and…” Kana coughed, “Hairballs. Trying to walk around while gagging. My quirks are… weird.”

Xiao snorted. “I think all quirks are weird in some way or another.” She said, “Mine gives me a fire so cold it causes instant frostbite and turned me into a creature straight out of Irish folklore.”

“Mmm, well, as long as it works and no one gets hurt,” Rumi started, “And you should probably work on that, kit. Warm it up a bit. Or work on some other way to use it.”

“I’ve actually tried to warm it up. It didn’t work, though I did find out I can leech ambient heat out of the environment,” Xiao said, “Which is pretty useful for when you want to use psychological warfare and scare people. Honestly, I’m wondering if I’ll be able to do things like Sub-Zero in Taiwan."

“Irish folklore?” Inko asked.

Rumi pat Xiao on the back with… more than enough force to send her head tumbling forward into her ramen bowl, which was thankfully mostly empty.

“... You know what I want to say…” Xiao said, “But I won’t say it in front of Mamadoriya. But I will say I will get you for this.”

Rumi laughed as she put her head back on, carefully cleaning off the broth and noodles from herself.

“... How do you eat? How do you even breathe?” Inko asked before it dissolved into the now very familiar mutterings that Izuki did regularly.

“She doesn’t breathe…” Kana noted, “And… I think the food is… burned up as she eats…”

“Quirks are weird,” Rumi said as if that was the only answer.

Which… honestly wasn’t wrong either.

“Mmm, after dessert Lily and I… will have to go, she lives in… I don’t know the Japanese word for it…” Kana frowned and continued in English, “A government provided housing complex on the other side of the prefecture… I live nearby, but she’ll need… an escort to be safe…”

“I got her, Kit,” Rumi said with a smirk as she eyed Xiao, “You just take care of yourself,”

“I shall… thank you, Mirko,” Kana replied with a soft nod, “Thank you for the company tonight, Inko, Lily, and Izuki.”

She was having a tiramisu, a coffee based cake type thing. Xiao didn’t understand how it worked, but it did smell tasty.

Meanwhile, in front of her was a giant fudge brownie and she didn’t hesitate to dig in!

[hr][/hr]

“You realized something about Kana,” It wasn’t a question but a statement.

Rumi and Xiao were already making their way to where Xiao was staying, Rumi’s ear flicked for a few moments before she nodded.

“Yeah.” Rumi said, “Is Kana detached, aloof or even apathetic most of the time? And when she does express emotion it just… isn’t quite right?”

Xiao just nodded. “I think most of the class finds her creepy,” She said, “So, I took it on myself to be her friend.”

Rumi nodded, “That’s good. Listen, I’ve worked with people like Kana. Professionals, all of them,” She said, “But they have a hard time with people, they don’t ‘get’ emotion. At least… not other people’s emotions.”

“I’ve… noticed that actually.” Xiao admitted, “She would gauge the mood before actually reacting to fit in. Pretty sure I read about it once…”

“Well just remember, despite the bad associations, it doesn’t mean she is emotionless or a killer in waiting.” Rumi said, “Your homeroom teacher is… Eraserhead right?”

“Yeah,” Xiao said, wondering where Rumi was going with this.

“He has certain traits in common with Kana,” She said, “It’s what makes him a brilliant Underground Hero, but beyond a few people he doesn’t really socialize. You get what I’m telling you?”

“I believe so,” Xiao said, “You want me to keep an eye on her?”

“I want you to be her friend,” Rumi corrected, “When you see the world through that lens? It’s a lonely place, and even if she can’t express it or understand you she’ll value your company.”

The rest of the trip passed quietly, with Rumi enjoying the peace and Xiao thinking about her friend.

[hr][/hr][hr][/hr]