The heavy reddish-brown wooden door closed. As the dismissal bell rang, the upperclassmen led by Bobby and John gathered outside the study. Storm and Cyclops, acting as teachers, shook their heads helplessly. These kids were simply too curious, and the school had no strict rules, so they inevitably got a little unruly at times.
Storm, Ororo, with her silver hair, stood outside the door with Scott. In truth, they were just as curious as the students about what the professor was discussing with that young man.
As students of the bald old man, these young X-Men had sensed the subtle changes within the school recently. Although the professor had not stated his position directly, they vaguely felt that the principle of keeping a low profile, which had always been emphasized, seemed to be loosening.
Muffled voices drifted through the heavy wooden door. The upperclassmen pressed against it, eavesdropping on the conversation in the study. Their chattering discussion gradually died down as the talk deepened. Their clear or innocent eyes shifted about. They might not have understood the specifics of what the two sides were discussing, but they could roughly tell that it was a discussion about the future of Mutants.
Sean's raised voice clearly reached everyone outside the door. His forceful words left them all silent. The ones most deeply affected were the upperclassmen. Before discovering that they were Mutants, they had all lived normal lives. It was only the sudden change that had caused these children to lose their parents and families.
The reserved Iceman Bobby had tears shimmering in his eyes. It was precisely because he was a Mutant that he could no longer enjoy the warmth of a family. Having lost his parents' care and affection, he had been forced to leave Boston and come to New