Chapter 4:

Am I Not That Powerful?

The Classroom Of Misfits


The breeze of this windy afternoon as the sunsets down from the horizon, Shigeru and Ibuki are in a road, away from town, the two are far away from each other. Shigeru crossed his arms while Ibuki smiled and twirl gracefully, leaving Shigeru to think if she’s actually a threat to him. The ecstatic noise that she let out just gave him the idea that she’s just childish and all talk.

Her twirls caused her dazzling hair to sway along with the sakura petals, this made Shigeru lose his focus and looked away for a moment. Even though he just looks at Ibuki as a small fry, but as a girl, a small glance at her smile just makes him fluttered.

‘Damn it, I gotta focus, this is not the time for me to gaze at a literal star in front of me. It’s not that I look down on her, she just gave off an impression that she’s really just all talk’ Shigeru adjusted his glasses as he looks back to Ibuki, only to see that she’s cuddling a Mashumaru plushie while grinning like a fan-girl

‘Really? Right now?’ Shigeru facepalms at the situation, which made him cautious to never tell her that he’s both the Dark Wings and Mashumaru

“Ehem…” Shigeru cleared his throat, gaining Ibuki’s attention “Are you sure that you’re serious about this?”

“Oh, sorry, hehe” Ibuki placed the plushie back on her bag that’s on the bike “I just do it for good luck.” She smiled gratefully as she looking for something inside her bag

“I don’t think that’s how it works”

Shigeru was surprised to see Ibuki grabbed a katana out from her bag, which is not the size for which a katana would fit.

“If you’re wondering how in the world is a katana fit in a small bag, it’s part of the items you’ll receive in the academy, I think it’s called the All-fitting bag”

“That’s just a stupid name, who came with that?”

Shigeru paused again as he suddenly felt a large presence coming from the katana, it was no ordinary katana. He felt that a powerful being is in front of him, coming out to face him, it didn’t faze him at all, but it made him put his guard up.

‘What is this? This is not like all the other Mental users I faced. That katana, that must’ve been the source of her powe-’ Shigeru froze in place as he felt a sharp object on his neck, he suddenly felt conscious, only to see Ibuki is not in front of him, the only thing left is the horns headband on the ground.

‘I-I can’t move, the hell happened?’ Shigeru moved his eyes to his right and saw Ibuki, illuminating a blue aura around her body, he looked at the object that’s on his neck and it was the katana. The sharp edge of the katana caused Shigeru’s neck to bleed.

“How’s that, did I pass?” Ibuki said while she looked at Shigeru’s eyes, their eyes interlocked with each other but her eyes are glowing blue

Ibuki stepped back as she places the sword back on its sheath, Shigeru stood there as he was processing what in the world happened.

‘I didn’t notice Ibuki’s speed, it might be because I was thinking but I can someone’s presence with it, maybe she’s really powerful, might be that her childish attitude was just a diversion to hide her true presence when it comes to battling someone. There’s one thing that I must know from her’

“Uhm… Ibuki?” Shigeru tapped Ibuki shoulder while she was cleaning the sheath of the katana

“Pretty impressive isn’t it? I know I know, I’m really good. Can you stop with the praise, it’s making me flustered” Ibuki hugged herself as her face started to turn red from her delusions, leaving Shigeru utterly confused.

“So, there’s something that I need to know from you…” Shigeru scratched his nape but as soon as he looked at Ibuki, she just stood there, like a soldier waiting for their orders.

‘I really don’t get you at all’ Shigeru shrugged it off while Ibuki keeps up a smile as she’s waiting for Shigeru’s question. Her heart thumps like crazy like she’s about to burst like she’s anticipating something breathtaking.

‘Yes, yes, after my life’s training with sensei, someone actually acknowledges that I’m powerful. Maybe, just maybe, is this the person that sensei is talking about a few days ago?’

Ibuki remembered her squeals as she was packing up her items to the bag, her sensei was just leaning in the door chuckling.

“Are you ready for your first day tomorrow?” He asked

“Yes, yes, I’m so excited. I’ve been waiting for this in my entire life” She replied as she hugged a Mashumaru plushie, her sensei laughed as he threw a scroll of paper to her, hitting her head in the process. Ibuki rubbed her head as she turned around

“What was that sense-” Her sensei just pointed the paper on the ground, Ibuki opened the scroll to see a map to Ishikawa

“Ishikawa? What’s the event?”

“That’ll be your last task before you’ll have to go in the academy, find a Mental user there, a specific Mental user”

“Who is this Mental user sensei?”

“That I can’t tell you” He suddenly jumped out of her window “See ya at the academy.” He sprinted out of Ibuki’s sight, she couldn’t help herself but chuckle.

“Alright, time to find this Mental user in Ishikawa. The thing is, I don’t know who.” Ibuki scratched her head while looking at the map.

For few days, she’s been circling around Ishikawa ever since she arrived using her trusty bike, but what Ibuki didn’t know, is that this bike is a spiritual cursed item. Probably the reason as to why it got attracted to Shigeru.

‘Come on now, what’s the question? Could it be, he’s leading me to the Dark Wings? YES! I would love that’

“What is your Mental ability?” Shigeru asked while his hand are on his chin like he’s deeply thinking about something.

Ibuki on the other hand felt like her world just shattered, as she was expecting a different question from her mind.

“D-did you seriously not know what is it?”

“Yup, cause neither all of the Mental users that I’ve met have super speed as a normal thing”

‘ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Am I- Am I not that powerful?!’ Ibuki’s screaming internally but suddenly, she heard something from Shigeru that feels off

“Wait, you encountered other Mental users? How did you know then?” Ibuki asked casually as she’s waiting for a reply “Uhm… Shigeru?” She looked at Shigeru but he was looking back, which made Ibuki confused

Back to Shigeru, he’s shaking and sweating from the sudden question, he just realized what he just said

‘Oh my gosh, that was close, I almost spilled the beans, if I actually say that I was the Dark Wings and Mashumaru, I’m sure I’m done for.’ Shigeru visualizes what might happen if Ibuki knew he’s both the person she deeply admires.

Shigeru turned around and cleared his throat, he adjusted his glasses as he looked at Ibuki.

“Well, I didn’t mention this but I’ve met other Mental users on a different circumstances, not the way that your sensei thought you” Shigeru replied

“Oh, that’s why, how did you meet those Mental users exactly?” Ibuki asked but Shigeru here has some complicated time to answer that question

‘What’s her problem? It feels like she needs a very specific answer. Looks like I have no choice, I need to resort to this.’ Shigeru thought as he stood still, ready to answer Ibuki’s question.

“As you can see, I’m a Mental user, right? But they are still questions that this system that is still unanswered. So, I took many risks just to research these Mental users’ abilities, and mainly these research are related…” Shigeru sighed out of disappointment “Related to the Dark Wings.” he continued with a soft monotone voice.

He looked at Ibuki, with sparkles behind her, surely Shigeru knows that this is bad news for him. Ibuki squealed and started jumping like a little child. Out of nowhere, Ibuki suddenly pinned Shigeru to the ground. She started breathing harder as she needed to ask more questions related to the Dark Wings.

“Tell. me. more.” Ibuki said as Shigeru replied with a defeated sigh

An hour has passed, Shigeru explained to Ibuki all of the Mental users he encountered while leaning on the ledge of the railings. Not that he told her that he did do it, he explained to her that throughout those fights, he was there writing notes on the fighting style of each Mental User that he ‘fight’. Ibuki blindly believes all this as she wrote all of what he said.

But at least Shigeru knew the names of the ones who tried to hunt him down from the academy where Ibuki learns.

‘So, from what Ibuki said, the ones I can remember I encountered is a Mental user that believes in god, that’s Kobayashi Isao, a werewolf who transforms at any place that resembles a full moon, I believe that was Matsuno Rui, I still can’t believe he has the height of a child. Shibata Kano, Ibuki herself doesn’t know what his Mental ability is, but from the one time I encountered him, he seems to rely on fogs and mist. Kataoka Eri is what they called a Mental Link, at least that’s what Ibuki said, she uses mystery stories as the source of her ability, and lastly, Watanabe Mayuri. Ibuki said that she’s living her entire life just to kill the Dark Wings and she was right. She’s the one that stood out the most, and the most recent I encountered, I guess there’s must be more to her story that I want to hear, if I ever met her again.’

Ibuki was done writing down notes from her notebook, as Shigeru stares at the sunset from the horizon, he remembered the screams and the battle cry she let out at the top of her lungs. Her words that kept reminded him why he must kill himself peacefully.

“You piece of shit, I’ll make sure to pay for what you did to my family. Why do you exist in the first place? You monster.”

That moment, Shigeru realized that all he did is run away from every single problem, and every single time he ran away, just kept causing another catastrophe. Shigeru decides to learn from his mistakes as he realized that cause more trouble can sometimes leave to regret and he doesn’t want any of that.

“So, uhm… Shigeru” Ibuki shyly asked as her fingertips touch together “This might be sudden but…” Shigeru looked at Ibuki, gaining his attention.

“I think, you might be the person that my sensei talked about.” Ibuki said, “I know it seems a little bit of a stretch but, my sensei said that I have to meet a specific Mental user, he didn’t tell me about the details as to who but after a few days of searching around Ishikawa, I just can’t find this Mental user but I think this is just a hunch but I have a feeling that sensei is talking about you, so, are you the person that sensei talked about?”

Ever since Shigeru met Ibuki this day, he keeps sensing a faint presence but he decides to ignore it. It’s actually pretty weak but to Shigeru, it might be trying to hide their true presence.

‘No wonder I’ve felt someone’s presence other than Ibuki, it might be her sensei observing us. If this sensei knows about me, they send Ibuki as a diversion. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, it’s too much of a stretch. I just can’t shake off this feeling.’

As Ibuki waits for Shigeru’s response, he felt a huge presence coming from his right, like it’s calling him. Shigeru thought that this might be the sensei that Ibuki is talking about. He simply can’t ignore it, it was not like any other Mental users he encountered, it’s much more threatening, there might be a strong reason as to why they sent Ibuki.

“Oh, I think it’s was kinda rude to me that I didn’t replay to your question but, my ability is a-”

“Can I borrow your pen and your notebook?” Shigeru offered up his hand, didn’t move his face away from the presence, cutting off Ibuki’s answer.

‘Did- Did he actually ignored me?’ Ibuki thought but he looked at Shigeru’s eyes, Ibuki doesn’t sense any stupidity or confusion from his face, knowingly thinking that it might be something important, Ibuki hesitantly to hand the notebook to Shigeru since she ask more questions to know what’s wrong, but she handed over her notebook to Shigeru, he swiftly grabbed both items and started writing something, which makes Ibuki confused.

“Meet me in this location” Shigeru handed her back the notebook, “We can talk later, I just needed to take care of something.”

“Hold up, Shigeru” Ibuki stopped Shigeru to hand him a small charm. “I think you’ll need it.” Shigeru was confused as to why Ibuki gave him a charm but he put it in his pocket.

“Thanks, I’ll deeply cherish this” Shigeru bowed and swiftly ran off the area, as Ibuki looked at the notebook as to what Shigeru wrote, it’s a location of a nearby park.

As Ibuki went to her bike, she looked back as to where Shigeru went, as the wind breeze slowly getting stronger. Thinking that he might be in great danger, but Ibuki is the type that doesn’t want to interfere with someone’s problems, especially someone that she just met.

‘Be careful out there Shigeru’ Ibuki thought as she started pedaling on her bike

Few minutes have passed and Ibuki just sat at a nearby bench, looking at the horizon as he waited for Shigeru at the location he wrote. Children chasing each other at the sidewalk, Teenagers talking about the latest trend and news, but something about their topic caught Ibuki’s attention, they were not close enough but it’s enough for Ibuki to eavesdrop.

“Have you seen that this guy is going around on the town saying that the Dark Wings is in here” a girl viewed a video of a man, in the center of the town, screaming about the Dark Wings being in this town terrorizing, which made Ibuki feel more curiosity

“He looks hot but he looks crazy”

“It’s impossible for the Dark Wings to be here”

“Besides, if he is, the authority would do something about it”

“I know right?”

The girls continued talking as they walked away, Ibuki tried so hard not to squeal but she came to the realization that some dude is trying to expose him.

‘If the Dark Wings is here, then is that the reason why Shigeru is here? If that’s really the case, then maybe, just maybe, I can finally meet him in person, YAAAHHH!!!!!’ Ibuki just can’t herself but to squeal, hearing that one that she admired is here

“Excuse me miss?”

Ibuki sat properly as she looked at the one who called her. It’s a guy that has white hair, wears a lab coat and a stitched scar on his face. Upon his sudden arrival made him suspicious to Ibuki.

“Are you Hirai Ibuki? I think I’m the one that you’re sensei is talking about. The names Fujisaki Keichi” He offered up his hand

Ibuki tried to second guess, cause she knows that her sensei didn’t tell any specifics about the one that she has to meet, but since he’s being genuine, she’ll just have to act to get through from his conversation.

“Yes, yes, I’m Hirai Ibuki” Ibuki just stood up and bowed “Nice to meet you, Mr. Fujisaki”

“Oh, no need to bow, I’m just fine with a handshake” Fujisaki scratched his nape out of embarrassment

“Sure sure” Instead of shaking his hand, Ibuki went straight on his wrist. She twisted his arm and opened up his sleeve to reveal a syringe filled with poison. The civilians in the area started to notice the ruckus in the area

“Nice try, I’m not the type of girl that’s easily getting tricked as simple as this” Ibuki jumped back away from him, as he tried to relocate his arm back, “You think I didn’t notice your presence since I’ve met with Shigeru? You stalker.”

“Damn it, I just need the Dark Wings.”

“Are you an obsessive fan or something? Cause I’m sorry, I’ll be taking the Dark Wings myself.” She sarcastically laughed which made Fujisaki triggered

He suddenly throws a stitched-up teddy bear which Ibuki sliced it in half, which made Fujisaki shocked and started scratching his neck.

“Someone doesn’t know what sarcastic means”

“Impossible, those bears can’t be sliced by as simple as a katana,” Fujisaki said with a soft scared tone

“Now I’m curious at what they do” Ibuki shrugged with a confident smile on her face

Fujisaki threw two teddy bears in the ground and it started to create a fog, letting Ibuki’s guard down, but as soon as the fog was gone, she suddenly saw two giant messed up teddy bears and in the center in Fujisaki laughing menacingly and maniacally.

“Dark Wings, come out come out wherever you are.” Fujisaki growled as the teddy are starting running towards Ibuki.

“Wherever the Dark Wings might be, I won’t hand him to someone like you” Blue illuminating starts to surround Ibuki as she pointed her sword towards Fujisaki, as her horns headband fell in the ground, actual horns grew from her head, as she ready to dash and destroy the bears in front of her.

This is actually perfect for Ibuki, for her to know if she’s actually powerful, in order for her to try and beat the Dark Wings herself.

...

Shigeru arrived at an alleyway, sensing that the presence was here before it disappeared. He walked closer to the alleyway, he’s started to think that this might be a trap, so, he closed his eyes and started to imagine the image of a wing flapped out of his back and it did, the wings burst out gracefully with the haunting reminder that he’s the manifestation of suffering. He let out his wings just for him to prepare for what’s to come. The wings looked like a swirling dark void than a wing, like his pain is basically the source of his powers but he still doesn’t know what it feeds off with. Suddenly and softly, he heard footsteps in front of him, the presence went back up and to Shigeru, it felt like that this Mental user is beyond what he used to encounter. He gritted his teeth and the wings flapped violently Right now, he’s prepared since this presence itself called him here.

“Hey, you” Shigeru growled “Are you the sensei that Ibuki talked about?”

Shigeru suddenly felt a dangerous presence behind him, he slides his left foot in his back, along with his body, forming a stance, just in time for him to catch that what appears to be a kunai close to his face. Noticing that the tip of the kunai is dripping something, he looked down to see that each drop caused the affected ground to melt. He immediately threw the kunai to the sidewall, breaking through the concrete, but it later dissolves the affected part, causing the kunai to fall down.

“What a nice trickery you had there,” Shigeru said and still got no response

All he heard is the same footsteps that are still in the same location, slowly getting closer. Knowing that this person is targeting blind spots, his wings started to flap even more violently. As this person getting closer, his knees started to feel numb like he’s about to kneel, but as this person reveals himself in Shigeru’s sight, he was surprised to see that this person doesn’t seem to be threatening, he looks more like a teacher than something that could obliterate him. The dude wears a uniform of a teacher, with brown messy hair, wears black gloves on his hands, with purple eyes that just gave off a childish personality. Shigeru titled his head as he walked closer while talking to someone from what appears to be an earpiece.

‘I told you that you’re kunai is useless against him” he seems goofing around

‘IDIOT! It’s because you're terrible at it, dumbass!’ a feminine voice came out from the earpiece, sounding so pissed but sounded so familiar to Shigeru

‘If that kunai is gone, I swear to god Amami!’

“Don’t worry, the kid got hit from it” He sarcastically changed his tone

‘THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! I COULD SEE THE KUNAI IS ON THE GROUND AMAMI!!’

“Why are you so mad about a kunai, you know you can replace it you know?”

The mic suddenly sounded distorted ‘Amami, if that kunai is gone, I’M GOING TO KILL--’

He threw the earpiece to the ground, breaking in the process. Takeda, who listened through the whole conversation, felt even more confused by this user in front of him, he looks like a normal civilian, talks like a normal civilian, he looks like that one guy in the group that is always chilling. This guy who was assumed to be named Amami, scratched his nape, before turning his attention back to Takeda.

“Uhm… excuse me,” Shigeru asked, “Are you the sensei that Ibuki is talking about?”

Instead of giving a reply, he just started laughing, not maniacally, but just normally. Giving of the impression that he’s just a nobody. But then he realized soon after…

That it was also Ibuki’s tactic.

Amami stopped laughing as he looked at Shigeru

“Looks like Ibuki succeed at her last mission”

‘I still don’t understand why you laugh all of the sudden’ Shigeru thought

“Also, I believe you’re looking for this?” Amami showed to Shigeru two broken parts from what appears to be a mask

“Is that, the mask.”

“Base on your reaction, I think it is. I wonder what deeds you did using this thing?” Amami said annoyingly, which triggered Shigeru something inside him.

“You’re saying that I used it for stupid bad things?” Shigeru growled

“I didn’t specify what deeds you did, I just ask” Amami made the item disappeared as Shigeru blinked which surprised him

“Now then,” Takeda went defensive throughout his entire body, as the wings continued to flap violently. Amami grinned menacingly

“Where were we?” He dashed straight to Takeda, instead of a fist forming as he was about to punch, Takeda saw the hand fully wide. Knowing that Amami’s presence is really strong, beyond strong. Any attack that he throws might kill Takeda. Unable to act in time and the hand getting closer to his face, it was the first time that Takeda felt any sense of fear from death.

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Volume 1 Cover

The Classroom Of Misfits


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