Zero - A Vigilante Deku Story

Chapter 29 - Lurking shadow of the past

POV Zero

The morning's lessons didn't cause him any problems in terms of the subject matter. Either he had already dealt with the topics during his previous high school course or they were easy for him, even if it was something new.

Of course, Mic and Midnight didn't miss the opportunity to greet Zero effusively. At least Shouta had been more subtle about it. Ever since the heroic history teacher had found out during winter break that Zero was living with her friends, she had wanted Zero to call her Auntie Nem. So far, however, the teenager hadn't dared because it would also take his relationship with Mic and Shouta to another level, which he didn't yet know if the two heroes even wanted.

It was time for the lunch break. Zero packed up his things and turned to Toshi.

"Are you coming to the canteen?" he asked immediately.

Zero nodded in reply. He had missed the lunch break yesterday and had eaten a little late with Shouta in the staff room before they had gone back to the classroom together.

"Cool," Toshi replied. "If you haven't got your hearing protection in yet, keep it handy. You're going to need it."

"Why?"

Toshi raised his hands as well. "Because our classmates are almost too much for you. Now all classes have lunch break at the same time. That means a few hundred students all talking to each other and then there's the noise caused by eating."

"Oh," Zero groaned. He hadn't thought about that. He pulled his bag forward and rummaged around in the front compartment until he found the can of professional hearing protection he'd recently gotten from Shouta.

"Are you ready?" Denki asked. He stood with his friends and waited for them.

It looked like Zero would not only be having lunch with Toshi and Denki, but also with Kirishima, Mina, Sero and Kacchan. Mina was talking animatedly with Kirishima, while Sero was playing with his phone. Kacchan didn't take his eyes off Zero. The ruby red gaze was heavy on him. Had the blond boy seen what he had been talking about with Toshi?

Actually, it made no difference. At the latest when the other heroes in training saw his costume, they would know how much he had to take his heightened senses into account so that situations that were normal everyday life for most of the others did not overwhelm him.

They walked through the corridors together. The closer they got to the canteen, the louder it became. Zero pushed the hearing protection into his ears.

Toshi leaned down to him. "If you get overwhelmed, let me know and I'll take you to Dad in the staff room."

Zero smiled gratefully at him.

Crossing the threshold was a shock for the winged boy. Despite the protection, it was still uncomfortably loud. The light was harsh and stung his eyes. The general commotion did nothing to help Zero stay relaxed.

He reached for a corner of Toshi's blazer. After the fiasco at the mall, Zero had only reached for his hand in absolutely exceptional circumstances.

"Are you alright?" Toshi asked.

He nodded and looked around the spacious hall. It was impossible to count how many students were here. A few who were sitting nearby turned their heads towards them and looked at the hero aspirants curiously.

In the entire room, Zero spotted only two other students who had some sort of wings on their backs. No wonder he stood out. The other two winged ones were a girl with dragonfly wings and a boy whose wings resembled those of a moth. Denki turned around and grinned at Toshi. "How about I go ahead and sit at our table with Zero, and you guys just bring us some food, huh?"