Shiketsu Academy, Club Assembly (Flickfang, Rosethorn, Majestic, Various Shiketsu Staff and Students)
The courtyard of Shiketsu Academy is a brilliant floral arrangement, stretched out across a field near the center of campus. Foremost are the dark blue flowers that line the flowerbeds, meticulously maintained by the groundskeeping team. Brilliant sky-blue flowers encircle their darker cousins, serving as contrast to outline the dark and give it the center stage. The other half of Shiketsu’s colors, golden yellow, crowns trees that are peppered among the gardens. Veins of walkways circulate the student body each day. It’s all very colorful, and even if the finer details are lost on Jade’s eyes, she can loosely imagine the colors she sees and the shapes she feels together.
For the title of largest open space, it competes with the campus stadium, but that fortress of modernity cannot compare to the smell of flowers that fills the air here. Thus, Jade chose the courtyard for the schoolwide assembly, instead of the stadium. A wooden stage, composed of parts, has been brought out and pieced together like a puzzle by maintenance stuff she doesn’t even know the names of. Jade stands with the rest of the staff to the side of the stage, where folding chairs have been set out for them to sit. It’s her first time teaching at a school this big, this impersonal. The Hero Program is smaller, more contained, but that’s only one small facet of Shiketsu’s student body. Always makes her feel like she should be doing more, for more students, but there’s no way to sprout off additional Jades like a budding hydra to tutor every one personally. If only.
Being blind ought to make the stage fright easier, but that’s not true in Jade’s case. Every little side conversation, every whispered word behind Jade’s back, every phone tapping in the crowd, in a way she can ‘see’ more than other public speakers ever have to worry about. More distractions, piled on top of distractions. Jade can’t bear to sit with the other staff, so she stands by the stairs to the stage.
“Nervous?” from behind Jade, Rosethorn places a hand on her shoulder.
“Kinda! It’s a bigger crowd than I’m used to.”
“Top ten events not as big in China?”
Rubbing her own elbows, Jade fidgets from foot to foot. “I’m usually not up on stage by myself.”
Striding past her, swatting her intentionally with his cape as it swirls up into her face, Majestic scoffs, “Just leave this to the professionals, I’ll have them warmed up in no time.”
The student body is gathered in the courtyard, arranged into rows and sections by the staff. Most are forced to stand, with a section set aside for students who need to sit or crawl because of a mutation or a disability. They all look up at the stage, where Majestic is approaching the microphone for his contractually obligated opening speech.
Why does Majestic have a contractually obligated opening speech?
“Hey there, Shiketsu!” holding up his hands, the man lets his cape billow in the faint breeze. “You know who it is. It’s your Number 11 Hero, but Number 1 in heart,” shifting one foot back, Majestic thumps a fist against his chest. “Majestic!” There’s an eruption of applause from his fanbase, which is mercifully contained largely to the general studies sections of the student body. But malignance has a way of spreading, and even now there are cheers for him from throughout. “You Hero Course students of course know me as your Heroics instructor, Majestic-sensei!” Another round of cheers. Many sound forced, from students not wanting to be docked marks for failing to look excited at his speech. “Thanks to the hard work and lobbying of your heroic Hero Course teachers,” leaning forward, Majestic waggles his eyebrows as if to imply he means himself, “… and administration staff,” he adds in a quieter footnote, “We will now be introducing club time to the Hero Course!”
This time, legitimate applause and shouts of approval ring out from the hero students. After giving it a moment, Majestic raises his hands, calming the crowd down by fanning them with his palms. “Exciting stuff! Now,” the enthusiasm drains out of his voice as Majestic turns to wave towards Jade, the microphone barely picking up the “someone to tell us more about all that,” as he walks away, dropping the mic.
Rubbing her forehead, Jade is pulled out of her momentary funk when she feels a hand held down to her from above. Rosethorn- Ami- has taken the first step onto the stairs and reached back with a hand. “It’s less scary on stage when you’re not alone,” she says encouragingly. Jade smiles and takes her cousin’s hand, the two emerging onto the stage to meet the student body. Determined to match Majestic’s passive aggressive style points, Jade slides the end of her foot underneath he fallen microphone and flicks it into the air, right into her waiting hand.
There’s an immediate whistle from 2-D. “Yeah!” Hifumi pumps a fist in the air. “Rosethorn-sensei and bat-sensei, wooo!” Beside him, one off the Korean girls he hangs around with covers her face in her hands, but a few people down the row, Orochi cups her mouth with her hands and lets out an animalistic howl. Their cheers are contagious, producing a warm welcome for the two teachers.
Jade isn’t sure if it calms her nerves or makes them worse, but she finds the courage to take up the microphone. “Thank you! We are very excited to bring this opportunity to you all. I know there has been a lot of disappointment from the funding issues we are facing with the school club catalog.” The sour note quietens the crowd, and Jade flicks her ears to the sides, taking in their reactions. “Because things have been so rocky, I am happy to announce that several donors and sponsors have stepped forward to help fund the school’s club programs!” Lowering the mic as a few student cheers work the hype energy back up, Jade offers it to Ami. “Would you like to do the honors of announcing our sponsors?” In equal parts to make her presence on stage less obviously supportive, and also because her endorsement would probably do a lot more than Jade’s.
“Gladly,” taking the microphone, Rosethorn steps forward to the front of the stage, while Jade uses a clicker to erect a giant electronic billboard from behind the stage. It currently displays the round silken form of the Shiketsu mascot, Shiketsu Man. His pixelated digital figure waves at the crowd and flashes them thumbs up. “We will now take a moment to thank our lovely sponsors,” Rosethorn repeats, holding the microphone in both hands like a tool of reverence. “First, we would like to thank Amahagene Ironworks for once again sponsoring our Shiketsu Kendo Club. Let’s give a big Shiketsu shout-out to Amahagene Ironworks and last year’s Shiketsu Kendo champions!”
The electronic billboard animates Shiketsu Man’s upper half hatching and erupting into a blue komainu with a golden mane and eyebrows, wearing kendo gear and clutching a shinai in his hands. The komainu raises the wooden blade above his head triumphantly, accompanied by high-octane sports music. Beside him, the logo of Amahagene Ironworks emerges from the background and does a little twirl, a floral arrangement of falling blossoms around a humbly beautiful katana, with the letters AIW gleaming from the edge like the reflection of sunrays. The student body swells in sweltering applause.
Not letting them wear themselves out before the other sponsors, Rosethorn takes back control of the audio, while Jade lowers the music volume with her controller. “Amahagene Ironworks has provided solid public utilities and construction materials to Kyoto for generations, while keeping traditional Japanese weapons and armor craftwork alive and well in the Hero Era. Our city would be all the lesser without them,” she heaps the praise with a genuine smile. Turning away from the crowd, she looks back at Jade. “Makura-san, would you like to introduce our club manager and facility?”
Accepting the microphone, Jade faces the crowd with renewed confidence. “This year, the Shiketsu Kendo Club will be lead by our Combat Teacher, Ss-” faltering for a moment on his hero name as flashbacks come flooding back into her ears- don’t say it don’t say it don’tsayit- Jade quickly corrects into, “Sugiyama Ryusei! Give a round of applause for your Sugiyama-sensei!”
As stipulated in his contract, Smokin’ Sexy exercises his right not to go on stage at live events. Instead, Jade answers the fainter applause with an image on the large screen, displaying one of Shiketsu’s many gymnasiums, this one featuring an arena stage. “Regular club practice will be held in the Shiketsu Martial Arts Gymnasium! But when it comes to hosting competition fights,” raising her finger into the air, Jade clicks her remote, bringing up an image of Shiketsu Stadium. Part of the central stadium floor opens up, and a glittering, lit-up stage emerges beneath a set of giant screens projecting the arena in higher resolution to all the onlookers- though right now the stadium itself is empty. “We’ll be holding them right in Shiketsu Stadium!”
After things cool down, Jade lowers her hand and continues, “Next, we have the much-looked forward to Shiketsu Outdoors Club! As one of our top interest picks for the school year, we are being very involved in planning how to be secure and safe without interfering with the education!”
An animated slide pops up onto the billboard, displaying the Japanese mountainside, a campsite lined with tents, and a crackling fire. “This will be more than just an overfunded glamping trip. The tools and equipment we have procured are top quality! And you will be learning how to use them or without them, to survive and thrive in the wilderness,” feeling like her Japanese stumbled a little, Jade pushes through without acknowledging it. “Mr. Michelson and LocaLoca-sensei will be leading the boys’ and girls’ campsites,” she announces, inviting the two up onto the stage to wave for the crowd. “While security will be overseen by myself and,” she looks upwards. “Skycarver-sensei!”
On cue, the winged hero drops down onto stage beside his two coworkers, folding his arms. A swarm of insectoid drones buzzes down onto the stage at his flanks, landing with a clack of metal limbs.
“Skycarver-sensei will be patrolling the skies alongside a squadron of the newest security drones provided by the Compound Hero Agency!” walking to the side to allow a better view of the security squad, Jade elaborate, “With their help,” and the Endeavor task-force on speed dial, though she leaves that part out, “We will be able to safely keep watch over our intrepid explorers without stifling their learning with a sensei hovering over their shoulders.”
Turning, Jade tosses the microphone to Rosethorn, who catches it and picks up her half with practiced ease as the billboard switches to show an image of Compound standing in front of his Hero Agency building, accompanied by a flock of his remote and automated drones. “We are immensely grateful to Compound-san for his generous donations to our club program. Among our other programs receiving funding from his support are the Gaming Club, and the Autobody Club, which you can look forward to hearing more about later. Compound Hero Agency! Putting hero-level safety in the hands of the consumer!”
Slipping the microphone back to Jade, Rosethorn takes two steps back, while the Outdoors club managers shuffle off stage, the swarm of robot bugs trailing after Skycarver. He just looks happy to be teaching normal classes again.
“Speaking of our new Gaming Club, I’m sure you all are very aware it was our other top contender,” Jade announces, to a chorus of cheers from the student body. “In partnership with Compound and various other smaller contributors from gaming companies,” she raises her hand and presses the clicker, allowing a series of logos to appear on screen, each having its moment to swivel forward into the spotlight while she speaks. “The Shiketsu Gaming Club will be enjoying various electronic and traditional games under the supervision of our lovely Nurse Busujima,” a spotlight flashes onto a woman with a purple streak in her hair sitting among the staff beside the stage, who stares out suddenly like a deer caught in the headlights. “In addition, we will have an official Shiketsu School Guild in the hot new MMORPG, Astral Pantheon: Throwing Us into the Stars!” The game’s logo appears on screen from among the other sponsors, a sword-wielding warrior standing in front of a sea of stars.
More excitement erupts from the crowd, this time mainly the nerdy shut-ins not socially shriveled enough to fear the act of cheering. “One of the key features in this game is the ability to upload your quirk data, gaining a unique-to-you ability for your character! There’s a vibrant tournament scene in the game between Guilds, with many events and game-modes, including events utilizing the state-of-the-art full VR systems available to us in Shiketsu’s simu-chamber!”
Moving onwards as the last of the Gaming Club sponsors finishes lighting up the screen, Jade clicks them back into a view of the Martial Arts Gymnasium. “And of course, we have heard you, Hero Students!” she announces, inwardly regretting being so impressionable during the polls. “So we are announcing our new Mixed Martial Arts Club, lead by your club manager Rosethorn-sensei.” As the cheers from mainly 2-D start up again, Jade quickly adds, “Pleasedon’tgetusinalawsuit, bat-sensei believes in you!” Then she clicks to the next slide.
An image of Shiketsu Man appears once more, and Jade tag-teams Rosethorn in. “Next, introducing Shiketsu’s new Track and Field Team!” Shiketsu Man’s komainu form cracks out of his cocoon wearing a track jersey and holding a paper cup of coffee. “Sponsored and lead by our Track and Field coach, Xpresso!”
The Spanish teacher jogs up onto stage, waving at the crowd. She jogs to a stop next to Rosethorn and holds out her hand. When she receives the mic, Xpresso announces in her sultry Spanish accent, “Stay active. Stay living. Xpresso Coffee!” Placing her hands over her heart, she bows her head, then turns the microphone back over to Rosethorn and jogs off stage.
“Thank you, Xpresso-sensei!” she calls out over applause from the athletic kids. “We will also be fielding a Shiketsu Komainus Basketball and Soccer team this year if fundraising is successful,” she adds. “Be sure to sign up at the table to my left after the assembly. Makura-san, would you introduce our next club?”
“Of course,” taking the microphone again, Jade clicks forward to an animated image of Kyoto City, where Mayamuro, the silkworm cocoon mascot, sits among the rooftops. “With quiet donations from many families in our school and city community, we are able to offer Japanese Culture Club, where students new to Japan can learn about your beautiful language, culture and heritage.” Jade bows humbly. “As one who has also come to learn more about her heritage here, thank you for welcoming us so warmly to Japan, Kyoto!” There’s some more reserved cheers from the crowd, and Jade subtly glazes over, “The new homeroom for our Support program, Ishizawa Sentaro, will be leading the Japanese Culture Club.”
Standing up again, Jade clicks to the next slide, revealing the inside of the Support course’s vehicle hangar. “Up next! One of our new clubs, the Autobody Club, will be operating under the guidance of our very own Majestic,” Jade says his name shortly, then quickly adds, “As well as former ace detective Hayasaka-sensei, one of our newest teachers!” Jade can hear Majestic huffing and fuming in his seat as she carries on, the spotlight on him and the calm-faced older man next to him. “Our mechanically-inclined students will have the chance to build an unmanned automated vehicle, piloted by our Freshman hero course’s new artificial intelligence, ODA! Our vehicle will be participating in the Compound Hero Agency’s Full-Contact Drone Racing League!”
Rosethorn takes over to introduce their sponsor, and a logo of a red and white avian soaring above an animated car speeding along a coastal bluff appears on screen. “In addition to our partnership with the Compound Hero Agency, we are working with one of the FCD Racing League’s biggest sponsors ourselves, the Ferrastella Group! Producing the finest Italian automobiles and heavy-duty construction machinery since 21XX! We are also proud to introduce a line of products from our sponsor relevant to our up-and-coming Hero students! Remember to stay equipped!”
There’s a pause in the presentation as an ad from the Ferrastella Group plays out on the screen, advertising some of their new lines of hero gadgets.
After letting the ad run through, Rosethorn repeats, “Thank you Ferrastella Group! We have one more announcement, I’ll let Makura-sensei take it away.”
Accepting the microphone one last time, Jade can feel herself starting to overheat from being under the spotlights. She looks out over the crowd, feeling the rippling sounds of their movements. They’re getting antsy to go as well, the initial excitement bleeding down into students hoping the assembly ends soon. “Before we let you get back to your evenings, I would like to announce our new Junior Council initiative. With many younger students chomping at the bit with ambition and new ideas, we are opening the student council, under Amahagene-sensei’s supervision,” the spotlight illuminates the tiny woman, sparing her the exercise of climbing the stairs, “To participation by first-year students. Those interested, please fill out one of the forms on the right side of the stage- my right!” she raises her arm illustratively.
With one final click, Jade lowers the billboard serving as her backdrop back into the stage. “We are limiting Hero students to only two club memberships due to their already heavy course load. However, with a compatible schedule and written permission from at least two staff members, students may exceed their maximum club load. Students also remain free to apply to open their own clubs, but will need to secure any resources for these clubs themselves. This concludes our school club assembly! Have a good evening Shiketsu, let us have more pleasant cooperation this year!”