"Ayo… why everybody be lookin' at us like we owe them dough?"
"...Aren't they always?"
"N-no. She's right. They're… staring at us even more."
"Isn't it because of what happened in the morning?"
Once again, everyone was gathered inside the ga Academy auditorium. This ti, all the students were asked to participate, and from all the caras scattered everywhere, the sudden gathering was going to be broadcast outside the campus.
And these caras, as well as most of the students' eyes, were all pointed at Riley, causing the Baby Crew to be confused. Except for V, who was confused like the rest of the Baby Crew as to why they were confused.
"It's because of him," she said while staring at Riley. "Didn't you guys hear the news?"
"Girl, ain't nobody in their right mind watch the news that early in the mornin' unless they lookin' for sothin' specific." Bella narrowed her eyes at V. "...Were you searchin' for our resident white boy that early in the mornin', girl?"
"N-no!" V's eyes widened. She tried to say sothing, but also noticed Gracey and Pauline looking at her weirdly. Even Tomoe, who doesn't really say or do anything, was looking at her suspiciously.
The only one who wasn't looking at her like she did sothing weird was Silvie. Instead, she even agreed with her.
"She is right," Silvie nodded. "Riley Ross fought with Anastasia at around O'three hundred. Tis Square was destroyed… and gawoman also arrived."
"What?!" This ti, it was everyone else's eyes that widened.
"gawoman appeared?!" Pauline raised her voice without knowing it. "Wait… is she coming out of retirent?!"
She quickly clamped her mouth, but it was too late. The caras that were already pointed at Riley zood in even closer to them, and those who were fortunate enough to sit next to their group leaned close.
If it wasn't for the notoriety of the Baby Crew, most of the students there would probably be rushing at them with questions already.
"You t with the gawomans again, bruh?" Bella turned her attention to Riley, who had not moved an inch at all since Hannah was knocked out cold, her head resting on his shoulder. But still, Riley answered.
"Yes," he said, making sure not to disrupt his sister's sleep at all. "But I only t with one of her, Bella."
"...Do you and gawoman have a secret relationship we don't know about?" Gracey joined in on the conversation. "Why does she always co to your aid?"
"She did not co to my aid, Gray." Riley shook his head. "She ca to aid the people of New York city."
"But she also ca when you were fighting those Dark Millennium shits!"
"She ca to help the students, Gray."
Gracey couldn't refute Riley's words, but still, she glared at him. She was about to say sothing else, but Riley spoke first.
"And you are wrong, V."
"Hm?"
"The dia is not here for ."
"But… they're all pointing at you?"
"That is because they do not know what they are truly here for yet, V."
"Uhm…" Silvie raised her hand. "Why do I get a feeling that you know why we are suddenly gathered here?"
"Girl, you don't need to raise your hand. That's cutie P's signature. I know you ain't submissive or demure enough for that, girl."
"Hey." Pauline gasped at the audacity of her words. "And she's just being polite. But… she's right, Silvie. You don't need to raise your hand to speak just because you're new."
"I think the problem here is that there's too many of us," Gracey smirked at Bella. "If this were a webnovel, we'd literally be consuming half the chapter with just us talking. We need to start culling."
"You lookin' at because I'm the only black girl here?"
"What the—what does your skin color have to do with anything?! You're the one with the smallest tits!"
"Wh—That's literally V!"
"That's disgusting, she's twelve!"
And as Bella and Gracey once again started flailing their hands at each other, the rest of the group could only sigh and shake their heads.
"Riley," V leaned out of her seat to look at Riley. "Do you know why we're gathered here?"
"I believe I do." Riley nodded. "But I also believe it would be best for not to say. I do not want to ruin the surprise."
"Wh—"
And before anyone else could ask, Benjamin's voice echoed throughout the entire auditorium.
[L-ladies and gentlen! On behalf of… the Academy, I thank you all for gathering here today.]
"Oh?" Gracey turned her attention to the stage while her neck was still being gripped by Bella. "Is it just … or your bro's not as lively?"
"...You right." Bella nodded, squinting at her brother.
[I know you're all wondering why we're here, and why we have caras everywhere!]
They were right, Benjamin didn't have the usual luster and excitent in his voice. Instead, he was incredibly stiff and not moving on stage at all, just holding his microphone on its stand.
[But I think… uh… we've all known that our Academy has been a target of several attacks ever since the start of the school year. And despite Bulwark and everyone's efforts, the darkness and corruption seem to run deep—and so, it would… uh—gawoman, everyone!]
Everyone was confused at Benjamin suddenly stopped and then ran away from the stage. They all looked at each other, his last words not yet processing inside their minds. And right when it did, soone suddenly stepped out from the back of the stage.
Everyone held their breath there and then. Bella also quickly let go of Gracey, the hairs on her arm standing up as the person walking on the stage reflected in her eyes.
Everyone caught the golden cape first, and then her long, golden brown hair.
And all of a sudden, the audience of thousands beca completely quiet, and the only sound that could be heard in the auditorium was the steps of gawoman.
Even when she eventually opened her mouth to speak, everyone still held their breath.
[Good morning, everyone,] she said while looking around the audience. [First of all, let introduce myself. I am… gawoman, and thank you for having and giving a voice to speak to all of you. Secondly, from now on, I will be a special advisor of this campus and will visit classes from ti to ti—I do not know how much help I could be, but I hope that all of us can learn from each other. That is all, thank you. Bulwark.]
gawoman took a step back, gesturing to Bulwark, who was already walking to the stand.
Bulwark didn't say anything, only bowing his head to gawoman before staring at the audience, who were still completely at a loss.
[All of you can breathe now.]
And as soon as he said that, the audience finally realized they were holding their breaths and took a collective heavy gasp.
[A lot of changes will happen now that gawoman is here.] Bulwark didn't seem to care that no one was listening to him. [The morning classes will remain the sa, but the afternoon classes will be completely overhauled starting this week. The superhero classes will now completely focus on practical lessons and tests, more so than they have done so before. You will be notified of the changes as the week progresses. Also…]
He continued to speak, but only a handful of students were actually listening to him.
[...the afternoon classes are still suspended, and students are free to roam the campus throughout that ti. And as planned before, the student council has prepared several events for everyone. That will be all, thank you.]
"Wait a minute… wait a minute…" Bella had her arms stretched wide, pushing the others into their seats. "Soone slap ! This ain't—"
Gracey slapped her before she could finish her words. Bella was about to retaliate, but she realized that Gracey seed even more shocked than her.
"You okay, G?" Bella whispered, but Gracey only responded with a hesitant nod.
And soon, Benjamin once again took to the mic.
[W-well… that was sothing, huh? gawoman! Would you… would you believe that?! We was just out here—] Benjamin quickly stopped himself, turning back to his announcer voice.
[Anyway, we have multiple events and booths set up everywhere! So, go on and have fun!]
And with that, the students began leaving the auditorium. Most of them were still completely silent, moving like zombies as they exited through the doors.
"H-hm…?" And just in ti, Hannah woke up. "It's over? What did I miss?"
"You missed gawoman's short speech, Sister."
"...gawoman?"
"Yes." Riley finally moved. "gawoman will now be loitering around the Academy from now on, Sister."
"I see."
"No, you did not."
"Wait…" Hannah's eyes turned wide, shooting up from her seat as she looked at the Baby Crew. "You an gawoman was here?!"
"Is here, Sister."
"Why… why didn't any of you wake up?!"
***
anwhile, back in Riley's Guesthouse, Miss Thursday, previously Champion, previously Ms. December of the Dark Millennium, was at a table with Darkday One.
"Is it too late to quit?" she asked with her arms crossed.
"Yes." And Darkday One answered her imdiately, nodding multiple tis before trailing a finger across his neck. "I will kill you if you quit, Miss Thursday."
"Then I suppose the Boss would be lying low?" Miss Thursday squinted. "gawoman is close by."
"No, not at all." Darkday One chuckled, wagging a finger at her face. "On the contrary…
…we have our target for this week. But you don't have to worry, the target is far and away from gawoman."
"Who and where?"
"Russia." Darkday One tilted his head. "Sofiya Sholova."
"That na… sounds familiar."
"It should." Darkday One once again nodded vigorously.
"She is the country's Minister of Defence."
Reviews
All reviews (0)