Heroes of Today

Part 13~Personalities are Strengths

Naka stretched as he waited in front of the school. He was slightly regretting choosing Ectoplasm. Everyone else didn’t have to go to school but he still had to show up.

“You too?"

Jumping up, Naka looked at the only other student in a 10-mile radius. Who was this again... oh, right, this was the brainwashing kid from the Sports Festival. "Hello... Shinso?"

"That's my name." Shinso rubbed his tired eyes, a bored expression on his face. "Who are you here for?"

"Ectoplasm. You?"

"Aizawa."

"Oh dear, good luck. If you survive that, I'll give you 1000 yen."

"That's my dad you're talking about."

Naka opened and closed his mouth, blinking in surprise. "Because he's such a lovely person."

Shinso raised his eyebrow with a smirk. "I wouldn't say that."

"You wouldn't now?" Shinso froze as Aizawa glared at him. "What would you say?"

Shinso spun, holding up his hands. "That you are an amazing hero who is super powerful and about to ground me... I'm grounded right?"

Aizawa hummed slightly. "No, I'm just going to make your next few weeks a living hell. Come on." Aizawa's scarf wrapped around Shinso's frame, dragging him into the school. Naka silently prayed for Shinso's continued existence as Ectoplasm finally arrived.

"Sorry, I'm late. I got caught up in a villain attack. Now, our training will start with a basic analysis of your abilities. Come." Ectoplasm turned to walk into the school, Naka following him a little like a lost puppy. "Is there something you wanted to work on?"

Naka fidgeted with his fingers. "Well, Akiko keeps saying we should learn a fighting technique and that I need better control over my clones." As Naka said it, he could practically hear Akiko's report echoing through his head.

Naka yelped as Ectoplasm hit him around the back of his head. "I didn't ask you what your friends thought. I want to know what you want to work on."

Looking up hopefully, Naka's eyes sparkled. "Really? I would love to learn how to use each clone's personality as a strength! Since all my clones shave a personality, it seems a shame to not use it, you know? And if I can-" Ectoplasm covered Naka's mouth, causing him to furrow his eyebrows.

"You don't need to justify it, we'll work on using your clones' strengths." Ectoplasm pushed Naka into the centre of the ring as the sparkle in Naka's eyes increased in intensity. A hero who respected his wishes? It was basically unheard of. Naka must be dreaming. Oh, well, he wasn't going to wake up just yet!

~~~

Naka ducked under Ectoplasm's clone, sweeping his feet out from under him. Naka let the gas escape his mouth, forming the clones around him.

The overjoyed clone jumped about excitedly, running circles around Ectoplasm as the 'clone' clone leapt over him and hit Ectoplasm with a bat.

"You're improving." The real Ectoplasm walked out as Naka brought back his clones. Naka cheered while taking one of the boxes in Ectoplasm's hands.

"Thank you!" Naka collapsed on the floor, opening the lunch box. Your lunches are the best! I'm going to miss these when I leave." Naka hummed in delight as he nibbled on the food.

"Then you can go back to Lunch Rush's meals." Ectoplasm pulled open his meal, taking a bite.

"It will never compare!" Naka laughed as footsteps announced the arrival of the sleep-deprived duo. Shinso groaned out a greeting before falling face down in the dirt.