Middle school is fun, at least to me It is. For my other classmates or even some teachers, not so much, though.
Turns out when your power is to create a semi-sentient ghost that you let roam free in your school, it turns the whole school into a haunted place with dozens of ghost encounter stories.
We even had a pro hero coming to our school to verify if there were really ghosts, which scared me in return.
‘ If they ever found out that it's me using my quirk at school that resulted in this situation, I could land myself in serious trouble.’
‘ Thank God they found nothing, and since no one was hurt just really scared.’
School continues like normal with the new addition of rumors about ghosts running around.
I also did some club activities like painting and calligraphy. I still remember the day I came to inquire about joining those clubs; they thought it was a prank.
Since it's known that I'm training to become a hero, they assume that if I were to join a club, it would be one related to physical activity.
Once proven that it wasn't a prank, though, and I was serious about joining, they were more than happy to have me.
I always wanted to learn how to draw, even though I am average at best; I still have fun learning.
‘ You can't be the best everywhere after all.’
My physical training is coming along fine.
I now have a highly toned, wiry frame rather than bulky bodybuilding muscles. My body fat percentage is low due to intense workouts, revealing distinct definitions in my core and shoulders.
With a straight posture, strong neck, broad shoulders, and well-developed calves and thighs.
At 14, I stand around 165 cm, although my face still retains some softness, with clear skin.
My hair is cut in a practical short crop style to stay out of my eyes during high-movement training. Overall, although I'm not a top model, I think I'm doing alright with how I look.
As for my ability training, my black ghost is strong enough to tear through steel, lifting to 4.5 tonnes. I have become able to change the shape of my black ghost.
I can make it more bulky for power and defense or lean for speed and agility; I can extend his fingers and turn them into claws, but most importantly, I can turn his arms into wings. He is strong enough to carry me, although I have to either grab onto his back or grab his feet when he flies.
When his arms turn into wings, he can use his feathers as projectiles to shoot enemies, and since he is invisible, you can imagine just how deadly he is.
The only thing I don't know precisely yet is how far I can safely send the black ghost from myself.
I'm worried that if I send it too far after losing our connection, it could disobey my command and cause trouble.
The farthest I've sent it yet is 6 kilometers.
I have also come a long way about killing myself.
“Sigh”, you might think that it doesn't have any consequences since you don't die, but you are wrong; that shit is not only painful, but it also takes a toll on the mind.
On multiple occasions, I have to be cheered by my parents; they must be thinking that I'm getting bullied either at the center or at school.
That's on me since I never brought any friends home and all I ever talked about was either training and studying or being a hero- my bad.
The fastest and best way to do it is to have the black ghost pierce my brain; it's clean, and death is nearly instantaneous, but the number of times I have to do it to get it right.
“Haaa” ‘ I don't want to talk about it anymore.’
“Arata-kun, are you paying attention to the class?” That would be my teacher
Mr Kotobuki Takeshi catching me while I'm lost in my thoughts.
“Yes, sorry, sensei.” I don't know why, but he and I can't tolerate each other. And since I'm at the top of my grade, he can't really punish me, so he takes any chance to scold me.
“Listen to me, Arata-kun, just because you have good grades it means you don't have to pay attention in class. I'm saying this for your own good; if you become lazy later…”
‘ Yeah, as if I would believe that. Any other day I would pretend to listen, but not today, so time to use my secret weapon’
“Sensei, I think I saw a ghost.”
“Don't be ridiculous, there is no ghost here”
While some of my classmates were snickering and others laughing, the classroom door was open with a loud ‘bang’ accompanied by a shriek and scream outside the door.
After that, the class had to be suspended because while my classmates were busy screaming and fleeing the classroom by the other door, our teacher fainted. Even I was surprised; I knew he was scared of ghosts but not that he could suddenly lose consciousness like that.
Thankfully, he didn't hurt himself.
....
Later that evening, I was recounting the events of the day to my parents and explaining why they received a message from the school saying there would be another hero coming to school to investigate rumors about ghosts.
“Mom, can I stay home tomorrow?”
“Oh sweetie, did you get scared?”
‘ No, I simply don't want to go in case the hero they are sending this time realizes that it could be a student using his quirk to cause trouble. In which case he could start asking questions. To avoid that situation, the best I can do is stay at home since I know some of my other classmates are doing the same, just not for the same reason.’
“Yeah, that was really scary, especially when the teacher fainted.”
“Sigh, ok, you can stay, but only this time. I don't want this to become a regular thing. No more skipping school after this. Are we clear?”
“Thank you, Mom, and don't worry, you know me; I don't skip school.”
By this time next year, I'll have already graduated from middle school and will be attending UA. The only way I see myself failing is if I don't attend, because even if I go take the test right now, I am sure I can come out on top.
‘ That's right, I don't see myself losing to anyone in class 1A at the start of the series.’
Now all that's left to do is to wait and continue grinding.