Inkopolis Academia #4: Unpleasant training

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Unpleasant training

Joe Ax entered and all students got on the edge of their seats. They just had 2 hours of math from a way too enthusiastic Dave, so everyone was eager to have some more hero practice.

Joe: "Alright class, today we'll end with some quirk training which will focus on possible weaknesses. Villains will try to exploit those, so you need to be prepared for the worst. I'll be dividing you in certain groups and tell you where to go."

After listing more than half of the students, he got to the sisters.

Joe: "Poppy and Rose, you'll be going to the dojo on the first floor. Nightmare will be waiting for you."

As soon as they left the classroom and dressed up in their hero suits, Rose engaged in a conversation.

Rose: "Excuse me, but ... Nightmare? What has that supposed to mean?"

Poppy: "Probably a hero name."

Rose: "Probably, but a bit too straightforward if you ask me."

Just like Joe said, there was someone waiting on the dojo entrance. It was a male inkling with one of his tentacles constantly covering his right eye.

Night.: Good afternoon, Serenity and Knuckleduster. I am Class 1B's homeroom teacher. My quirk is called Phobia, and it allows me to assume the form of the living creature my opponent is the most scared off. You'll each have to fight me 1 on 1 and we'll see how you can deal with fear, since you two have emotion-based quirks. Anyone who wants to go first?"

Rose raised her hands, as her tentacles started to glow a bit already.

Rose: "Let's get this over with."

Night.: "Good. Your sister will wait outside, I want to you to confront your fear on your own."

As said, Poppy waited outside and Rose entered with Nightmare. It was indeed a dojo, similar to the one she practiced judo (but got expelled since she couldn't stop her quirk from activating), but way big. There was a large square painted on the floor, which Rose assumed to be the 'arena field', which got confirmed.

Night.: "We'll each take one side of the square. It's straightforward: either get a clean hit on me, since my quirk deactivates on its own once I sustained enough pain, or get me out of the square. You can give the sign to start."

Rose: "Alright, I'll shout GO."

After they took their respective places, Rose quickly observed the room 1 more time for her potential strategy. The ceiling didn't seem too high, which was all she really cared about. She was eager to try her move.

Rose: "GO!"

As she expected, Nightmare assumed the form of a spider, one with the size of a really small car. Rose had a fear of most Arthropoda, with Arachnids taking the cake. Despite this, her tentacles started to glow even more, while she whispered to herself.

Rose: "I'll win this ..."

Before evading a webshot in her direction. She started to run around, gaining momentum. Spider Nightmare tried to locate the runner, but wasn't mobile enough. He tried shooting webs at the ground, but when Rose was out of his vision, she did an enhanced superjump towards the ceiling, right above the spider. Before reaching it, she turned around and reverted back into her humanoid form, placing her feet against the ceiling.

Rose: "Determined dive!"

She yelled while launching her back to the floor, both fists forward landing on the spider. This caused Nightmare to revert back into his humanoid form.

He was rubbing his head, but looked happy.

Night.: "I am impressed kid, looks like fear doesn't influence you that much."

Rose: "Thanks sir, but you're not completely right. All kinds of emotions can influence me, but as long as I am determined and persevere, using my quirk isn't a problem."

Night.: "I see, but you did well nevertheless. You can call your sister, now."

Poppy had been sitting outside the dojo, rambling silently about the lessons of today, but stopped when she saw Rose exitting.

Poppy: "How did it go?"

Rose: "Honestly really great. It felt so good to have something which felt like an actual battle. I think you're fine, you already have a lot of energy stored right?"

Poppy: "Yeah. If needed, I can go to 50% so I might be able to settle things quickly just like you."

Rose: "Go get 'm sis!"

After having the same explanation like Rose had, Poppy and Nightmare took their respective places. Poppy was more nervous than ever, as she didn't really know herself what she was scared of the most. But eventually, she gave the sign, just like her sister.

Poppy: "GO!"

And as soon as Nightmare changed form, not only Poppy froze, but he too. Standing before Poppy was a female inkling with white tentacles and grey eyes, wearing a mask covering her lower face and a black businesslike suit. The tension got broken when Nightmare changed back to normal on his own.

Night.: "Training dismissed, you can return to your classroom ..."

Rose: "Can you please repeat that?!"

Rose was interrogating her sister on their way to the classroom.

Poppy: "He assumed the form of All For One, now I don't want to talk about it please!"

All For One, the only known X-rank villain, named after her own quirk which allows her to steal the quirks from others and either use them for herself or give them to someone else. She had been the ruler of the criminal world for a century, until coming to blows with Captain Cuttlefish, the most famous number one hero there was up until this point. In the rematch at Inkopolis Square 5 years ago, she lost and got arrested but this was also the moment which caused Cap'n to retire. Villains had been very active and chaotic after this, a dire time which Poppy had always been associating with All For One. She also saw said rematch on tv, which had left a bad impact. But Poppy never realised the fear she had for that woman, until today.

Rose: "Listen up Pop, I won't bother you anymore with questions but just be sure to tell me when you got something pushing down on you alright?"

Poppy: "Sure sis, sorry for snapping a bit."

Rose: "It's alright. Know when to open your kettle is all I am saying. And if I may say something to put you at ease: AFO has been put into Tartar prison, the most quirk secured prison there is and she's on medical aid due to her injuries. Villains need to pull of quite a stunt to break her free, for real."

Being a rational person, this really helped to calm down Poppy, which Rose knew. The rest of day continued it's normal way, with Poppy only being startled when she saw a random woman at the station, wearing a business suit.

Poppy: "Guess I should stop overthinking things ..."

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Evanne's journal

Semi-succesful test on street thug. Effects weren't too excessive and he didn't cause any major ruckus. Low-ranked hero took care of it. If we want to do operation chaos, we need more power. Further investigation needed.

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