The second floor corridor of the academy is overtaken by a mass of people. The new students are talking to each other, waiting to get to their homeroom class. Kaden is among the students, searching for a classroom with a paper in hand.

“Let’s see... 2-A, 2-A…” Kaden mumbles to himself.

Then, a hand taps Kaden’s shoulder. “Excuse me…”

“Gaaaah!” Kaden flinches. “Sorry if I scared you. But do you happen to know where class 2-A is?” The guy apologizes, who is revealed to be Ricky.

“Oh, I’m... actually looking for that class myself.” Kaden answers.

“Ah, could we look together then? I’m... not from around here so a buddy would be nice.” Ricky admits.

“Uh, sure. My name’s Kaden, by the way.” Kaden offers Ricky his hand. Ricky takes the hand and shakes it. “Richard, but call me Ricky. A pleasure.”

“So, you from NY?” Ricky asks.

“Yeah. What gave that away?” Kaden wonders.

“Ahh, just a guess. I was hoping to bump into a local.” Ricky puts his arm around Kaden’s neck. “Saaaaayyy, you wouldn’t know any hot ladies from around here?”

“Wh-Wha-- N-No.” Kaden blushes, remembering the girl from earlier.

“Agh, shame. Guess my romances have to wait.” Ricky laments.

“R-Right.” Kaden says, while also realizing: “Wait, romances? In plural?”

Kaden and Ricky then start walking. “Anyway, you’re here for the hero course too, right?” Ricky inquires from Kaden. “Yeah.” He answers.

“Guess we’ll be seeing each other around a lot then!” Ricky exclaims.

“Seems that way.” Kaden tells Ricky, while thinking: “He’s a bit... odd, but guess it wouldn’t hurt to have a buddy for a bit.”

After a bit of searching, Kaden and Ricky manage to find their way to Class 2-A. There are about 30 students in the class, including them. Fortunately, the room is quite big, so the mass of people fits the room just fine. Kaden and Ricky go to a free desk and sit down in chairs.

Kaden looks around and notices a familiar face. “Isn’t that the girl I bumped into earlier?”

The girl is in fact, Dulcea. She looks around nervously for a place to sit. Kaden decides to call out to her as she walks past. “H-Hey, sorry about earlier.”

“Gyaah! I’m sorry!” Dulcea shrieks anxiously. Her eyes turn into greater than and smaller than-signs.

“What are you sorry about? I’m the one who’s sorry.” Kaden questions gently, with a sweatdrop rolling down his cheek.

“O-Oh. It’s you.” Dulcea realizes.

“Wait, you know each other?” Ricky wonders, and then whispers to Kaden: “You said you didn’t know any cute girls!”

“I just bumped into her, that’s all.” Kaden bluntly whispers back.

“I think there’s something going on between you two.” Ricky suspects. “A boy and a girl bumping into each other is how many romances start.”

“What are you talking about? There’s nothing going on!” Kaden insists with his cheeks flush.

Dulcea tilts her head. “Eh... I’m sorry... but…”

Kaden turns his had back to Dulcea. “It’s fine, really. I wasn’t looking where I was going, so I don’t blame you.”

“Oh, well, uh, I’m glad then.” Dulcea stammers her words out.

Kaden and Dulcea gaze into each other’s eyes. Once they realize what they’re doing, they blush and avert their gazes.

“A-Anyway... you could sit here if you want.” Kaden suggests. “Oh, and the guy next to me is Ricky.”

“Yo. Pleasure to meetcha.” Ricky introduces himself casually.

“Um, okay. M-My name is Dulcea. W-What’s your name?” Dulcea asks Kaden.

“Oh, yeah, I never introduced myself.” Kaden realizes. “I’m Kaden.”

“I-It’s nice to m-meet you.” Dulcea bows deeply and sits in the chair in front of Kaden.

Further from them, Cyrus is sitting alone on a chair. “Look at this crowd. I had no idea this many people wanted to or even could become superheroes.” He thinks to himself nervously, putting his hands on his forehead and staring down into the desk. “Ohhhh, what have I gotten myself into?”

The homeroom teacher, Karen, steps inside the classroom. She goes behind the teacher’s desk in the front of the class.

“Good afternoon, everyone. And welcome to the orientation class of The Academy of Heroes. I’m Karen Malina, your homeroom teacher.” Karen states matter-of-factly. “Now then, shall we start right away?”

Karen starts up the holographic blackboard behind her. “During the next 3 to 5 years, you’ll be tested, trained and pushed to the max in this academy.” She explains. “It’s all to see if you have what it takes to be a hero. Whether your power comes from a gene, a device or a pure accident, we provide for you here.”

In another classroom, Sarah is looking around in her seat, mesmerized. Johnny asks her to calm down, as the orientation is starting in their class as well. In the back of the class, a figure with their face covered in shadow watches over Sarah and Johnny, smiling. The figure is female, and seems to be wearing a hoodie jacket, a blue shirt and a skirt with tights. Blonde hair is also dangling down from her head.

“It’ll be tough for sure. But remember that you have us teachers to support you for all that time.” Karen tells the class. “This job certainly isn’t going to be easy. The path of a hero isn’t for everyone. But know that your lives will change from this moment on.”

All the students in the classroom are listening intently to the teacher. “I want you to cherish this time you have with your peers.” Karen pleads. “Because in the future, you’ll most likely be working with very different people in very different situations. Doing the right thing... is the name of the game and what we teach in this academy.” She then raises her hand in the air. “So! Without further ado–”

Pointing towards her class, Karen ends her speech on these words: “--let’s see what you got!”

END CHAPTER 1