School Matters

Actually, Feeney didn't care about Skye's identity, but he knew it was a sore spot for her. Even though she was happy living with their family, she still wanted to know why her birth parents had abandoned her.

"Skye, what would you do if you had superpowers someday?"

Feeney asked out of the blue. In this world, having power was always better than not having any. Wasn't the reason he was so eager to grow stronger to protect himself and his family?

"Huh!? Me!?"

Skye froze, then looked at Feeney hesitantly. "Feeney, you know we're not related by blood. Mom and Dad adopted me..."

Feeney was taken aback at first, then realized what she meant. He couldn't help giving her a speechless look. If they really were blood relatives, having superpowers would be impossible.

"Don't overthink it. Just imagine you had superpowers too. Let's say vibration. What would you do?"

"Vibration?"

Skye looked confused, but Feeney seemed serious, so she began to think it over. "I... I'd probably be scared at first, and think I was a monster..."

As she spoke, Skye stole a glance at Feeney. When she saw his expression hadn't changed, she continued, "Then I'd probably get curious about where the power came from and what I could do with it."

"With vibration, it seems like there wouldn't be much you could do."

Skye racked her brain for a long time, but still couldn't think of any use for a vibration power. Feeney couldn't help feeling amused.

"Vibration can cause earthquakes. If someone picks on you, you could make the ground disappear under their feet for miles around. You could also send out Vibration Waves, like an Air Cannon. They're invisible and colorless, so they'd be great for a Sneak Attack."

Skye thought Feeney was joking and glared at him in annoyance without saying a word.

Feeney didn't say anything more. Although Possessed by Evil Spirit had greatly increased his strength, he was still nowhere near strong enough to take on S.H.I.E.L.D. by himself.

He would have to get stronger—strong enough to fear no one—before he could properly deal with Skye's situation.

Feeney had considered having Skye learn magic with him and become a Magical Girl, but that sort of thing depended on talent. Besides, the Ancient One hadn't agreed yet, so he didn't want to make promises too soon.

After chatting briefly with Skye and having lunch, Feeney didn't rush off to look for the New York Sanctum. Instead, as usual, he headed to the shop. Yesterday's robbery wouldn't affect business today.

On the way, Feeney considered hiring a security guard, but then remembered that Skye only opened the shop when he was there. When he wasn't, they usually just closed up and played on the computer, so a guard wouldn't make much difference.

After working hard all afternoon and earning a tiny bit of experience to refill his emptied Experience Bar, Feeney wrapped up the weekend.

The next day, Feeney went to school as usual. High school in the United States wasn't as demanding as it had been in his previous life, but graduation was approaching, and he wanted to keep his grades up.

As soon as he arrived, though, he noticed people sneaking glances at him and whispering. After listening in, he found out it was about what had happened with Carson.

"Did you hear? That genius, Hailsaiz, beat up Carson the other day."

"No way! Isn't Carson on the Basketball Team?"

"Yeah! Who would've thought? I heard Carson got beaten up pretty badly. His face was covered in blood!"

"Why did they fight?"

"I heard it was over a girl. Apparently, she was..."

Feeney walked through the school, feeling a little speechless. He ignored the curious looks. He'd gotten used to them when he skipped a grade to enter high school and became the school heartthrob, so he didn't care.

He'd graduate in a month at most, according to his plans, and couldn't be bothered to explain what had happened.

As for college, Feeney had originally wanted to do what Skye did and finish school after high school. But his parents firmly refused to let him, since he'd gotten the top score while skipping grades.

He'd been worried about where to go to college and what to study, but after what happened with the Ancient One yesterday, he'd made up his mind.

He'd stay in New York, of course, and major in Ancient Philology to build a foundation for learning magic. He wasn't naive enough to think that every Magic Book was written in modern language.

Just as Feeney had settled on a tentative plan for the future, the other main character in the rumors sweeping through school approached him as classes ended.

"Hey, Hailsaiz!"

Carson and several of his Basketball Team teammates blocked Feeney with unfriendly expressions as he was about to leave school.

"What's going on?" Feeney asked, frowning at the group surrounding him.

"Are you the one spreading those rumors around school?" Carson asked, glaring at Feeney. The wound on his lip had mostly healed, but the scar was still there.

"Do I look like I have nothing better to do?"

Feeney looked at Carson without expression. He'd rather spend that time making more Sumire's Fried Chicken Rolls and earning experience.

Carson said nothing, standing there and staring at him as if trying to decide whether he was lying.

Feeney grew impatient with Carson's silence. "What do you want? If it's nothing, move aside."

"Apologize!"

Feeney paused, wearing a baffled expression.

"Apologize to me in front of everyone at school, and I'll let this go."

Feeney couldn't help laughing in disbelief. What on earth was going through this guy's head? He understood that every student at school cared about saving face, but that didn't give Carson the right to pick on him.

"Go home and get some sleep. Maybe you'll get your way in a dream."

As he spoke, Feeney shifted aside to walk past Carson. But after taking only a couple of steps, he sensed movement behind him and immediately dodged to the side. When he turned around, he saw that Carson and the others had tried to grab him.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Feeney's expression darkened. He hardly ever caused trouble at school. He was known as a genius and had a good reputation with the teachers, but he didn't have many friends. Some people even called him a "bookworm" behind his back, but he couldn't be bothered to care.

"Hailsaiz, we don't want to do this either. Just apologize, and that's all."

Carson spoke with a vicious look on his face. His tall, broad frame made Feeney look rather thin beside him.

"What if I don't?"

Feeney replied coldly. If Carson had come to apologize for what happened that day and then asked Feeney to help explain the situation, Feeney might have agreed to help.

But unfortunately, Carson had chosen the one thing he shouldn't have.

"Then don't blame me for what happens!"

Carson and his friends clenched their fists and struck threatening poses, drawing the attention of many people nearby.

Feeney couldn't be bothered to waste time talking. He punched Carson in the face, and blood sprayed everywhere.

Because of Golden Great Deduction Technique, he didn't like getting angry or cursing people. The things he said could become reality.

An ordinary person could curse someone with "Watch out, you'll get hit by a car and die" and nothing would happen. But if he got worked up and said the same thing—and even pictured it happening—there was a real chance that person would get hit by a car.

Ahem... please vote!