Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: I Hate Exams (5)
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Realizing that Hera Carmen was standing right in front of me, my feelings were far from pleasant. I'd come up to the rooftop to clear my head, but somehow my thoughts were getting even more tangled. My chest tightened, and the excitement I'd felt earlier cooled into something frigid.
"Don't get too close to him?" If anything, that was exactly what I'd hoped for.
"Fine by me."
"...Huh?"
"I never planned on getting chummy with him anyway."
"Pfft, I see. How amusing."
As if the situation itself was entertaining, she flashed a deep, knowing smile. Maybe she hadn't expected a response like that from me. But I had no choice—I'd realized at some point that it wasn't just the two of us up here on the rooftop anymore.
"Zenon would be pretty heartbroken if he heard that."
"...Maybe."
It wasn't just a maybe. Of course he would be—it was a given. He might even see it as my selfishness. Our relationship could fall apart right up until the very end.
But that was exactly what I was aiming for.
"What do you think Zenon would feel if he heard you say that right now?"
"...Nothing much. I doubt it'd faze him."
"Pfft."
A dull ache stabbed at my chest. I knew exactly what Hera Carmen's words implied. Her loaded remarks kept coming, one after another. Zenon was probably listening from behind that rooftop door. And that's precisely why I pressed on.
"Truth is... I never even thought of him as a friend."
Thud—
The rooftop door slammed shut with that sound. Neither of us was anywhere near it. So, he had been listening. A sharp pain twisted in my chest. I didn't make a habit of saying cruel things in front of people who might hear them. But meeting her made this the right thing to do. If I'd given the answer I knew she wanted, things would've spiraled into the worst possible outcome.
"Oh dear, looks like someone else was here besides us. Not Zenon, I hope?"
I stared silently at her smirking face, playing innocent as if she knew nothing. She was probably thinking things were working out perfectly. In the original story, Aisha and Hera had crossed paths too. Not on a rooftop, and the conversation had gone in the complete opposite direction, but still.
The moment I met her, I knew. This had to be connected to the practical exam coming up.
Practical exam. Hera Carmen. Those two keywords pointed straight to one of the plotlines I knew all too well.
I wanted to avoid that plotline.
#
Rumble—rumble—
The familiar rumble of the subway filled the air. Oddly soothing, I entrusted my body to the swaying car and gazed at the guy standing in front of me. His unfocused eyes stared blankly at nothing in particular. His white hair was a total mess, sticking up like he hadn't bothered to comb it.
Was he that out of it? Probably my fault, though.
A pang of guilt made me drop my gaze as I let out a sigh. I'd expected this, but not that he'd fall apart quite this badly. Honestly, I'd just figured we'd drift apart a bit when I said those things in front of Hera. In my mind, Zenon and I were nothing special.
Just some random connection that happened by chance. That's all I thought it was.
Apparently not. Did Zenon see me as a friend? The thought only deepened my guilt. Even if he learned the full story later, would he forgive me? No matter how hard I tried to avoid becoming the heroine, saying that in front of someone who thought of me as a friend—especially someone listening—was a bit much.
"Sigh..."
I felt bad, honestly. But there was no helping it. Steeling myself, I checked the route map for our stop.
"Zenon, this is our stop."
"......"
Even after we arrived, he just stared vacantly at the doors. When I spoke up, he shuffled out without a word. He wouldn't even meet my eyes anymore, and now he wasn't responding at all. It left a bitter taste, but I chalked it up to karma and steeled myself again.
This awkward dynamic was what I'd wanted, but actually living it felt... uncomfortable.
Out of the station, I fiddled with the smartwatch I'd bought last time. I never would've known about these without Frey. I'd thought it was just a fancy watch, but it turned out to be leagues ahead of any smartphone—a pinnacle of modern tech.
The screen projected as a hologram, customizable so only I could see it, and its wristwatch form made it far more portable than a phone or smart box you could lose. The shock when I learned smart boxes had been discontinued for over five years...
I tapped a button to activate the hologram, and a familiar voice spoke.
-As requested, please activate your hologram once you arrive at the practical exam site. I hope you didn't turn it on early. You'll be operating in pairs of two. There may be separations in certain situations, but solo activity is extremely dangerous for you students who aren't full heroes yet. Villains don't hesitate to attack students. Unless it's a truly exceptional circumstance, please stick together.
-With the termination of this hologram, your 12-hour practical exam will begin.
Click—
The hologram winked out, replaced by a digital timer reading [12:00]. The exam must be starting now.
"...Stick together, huh."
The professor's words stuck with me. Not happening. From the start, I'd planned to operate separately from Zenon. The mood between us made pairing up feel way too awkward anyway.
"Zenon, I'm heading to District B. You go this way."
"...Got it."
Had he seen me turn on the hologram earlier? He didn't object and just vanished in one direction. What was he thinking about what I'd said? I secretly hoped it wouldn't leave an indelible scar.
"...Sigh."
Things were messed up with Zenon, and my current situation was a total mess. We'd split in opposite directions, so the plotline I knew probably wouldn't repeat. But avoiding it didn't mean nothing would happen.
...Still, no need to worry about that now. The incident I'd face was a bit later.
Focus on the practical exam for now. With that thought, I started walking.
A hero's duties weren't just subduing and capturing villains. Sure, that was the main gig, but the world's dangers weren't limited to villains. Plenty of hazards existed regardless.
Like rebar falling from a construction site.
Crunch—
"Th-thank you so much."
"No problem."
Or a kid lost in a crowded street, separated from their parents.
"Sob... M-Mommy... wh-where are you?"
"...I'll find her for you."
If someone in the world needed help, providing it was a hero's job. Some might call it just running errands for annoying tasks. But I knew well that for some, it was a desperate plea.
...I knew it all too well.
It felt refreshing. I hadn't realized helping someone could bring this much joy. Maybe I'd wasted half my life. The thrill when the person I helped smiled, wiped away tears, and expressed gratitude—it made my whole body tingle.
Maybe being a hero suited me perfectly, perks aside. The downside was risking my life... but if I could feel this every time, it might be worth it.
"...Six hours left."
The sun that had hung in the sky's center was gone, replaced by faint moonlight. As the intense daylight faded, revealing hidden forms and drawing in the dark curtain of night, silence settled over the city. Neon lights took over, illuminating the silhouettes of people.
Sitting on a rooftop, watching it all—maybe that was one of life's simple pleasures. Feeling the lingering chill of winter on my skin, I gazed at the cityscape, like stars brought down to earth.
"...Nice."
A quiet murmur that should've been just to myself.
"Yeah, it looks nice."
Someone spoke from behind me. Here you are, I thought, turning around. There stood the person I'd expected. Or... could you even call that a person?
A tiny figure under 130 cm tall, face hidden by a fedora and scarf, clad in a coat dragging on the ground. Black silhouette. Between the scarf and hat, there was no nose, no eyes—just deep darkness.
"Didn't Hera tell you not to come? Did the message not get through properly?"
"No, she told me not to come here. I heard it loud and clear."
After Zenon left that rooftop, Hera had said it plain as day.
-Don't go anywhere near District B for the next practical exam. Consider this your warning.
"And you came anyway? I don't get it."
"You don't need to. I never expected understanding from Zenon or the rest of you."
"...Right?"
With that soft mutter, a black sphere began forming in his hand. It sucked in the surrounding particles, growing stronger by the second—befitting his ability, 'Black Hole.'
Crunch—
Zenon was far away, right? Thinking that, I formed ice in my hand. His black hole devoured everything. Even an explosion. The worst matchup for Zenon, without a doubt.
I'd pulled this stunt to avoid the original plotline, but I was still a little worried. Could I really do better than Zenon had? He'd faced the worst matchup, countless people died, half the city was wrecked. Even I had cursed at that scene the first time.
All Zenon got out of it was trauma.
I'd chosen to face this guy myself to avoid repeating that... but it was scary. A villain openly gunning for my life, the thick killing intent—it'd been so long since I'd felt anything like it. My body was trembling before I knew it.
...Should I run now?
Muttering that inwardly, my hand still aimed straight at him.