"Uh...? Great Grandpa? What's going on here? Aren't I in some sort of life-or-death situation right now?" I asked.
"Why yes, yes you are! However, you don't need to worry about that now, we've got something else to do!" He replied.
"Something else? Huh? Like what?" I wondered.
Grandpa Tanjiro smiled at me, "It's time to talk more about your past! I'm sure everyone would like to know about it!"
Everyone? Seriously, out of all the times that he could do this... Good grief... I guess I should do what he says.
[2 & A Half Years Prior]
"Yo! Alyx! Wait up, man!" I heard Joshua shout.
I turned around and stopped, "W-Why... Why are you so hard to catch up to?!"
"Are you seriously worn out from running not even 3 minutes?" I laughed.
"What? It's not my fault that I've got such a badass Quirk my dude!" He bragged.
"That has nothing to do with it but, yeah... Totally..." I deadpanned.
We continued our walk to school, which doesn't really take us that long. As we arrived at school, someone accidentally walked into me.
"Oh, I-" I stopped talking and seized up a bit.
"O-Oh... I..." The girl stuttered.
Standing in front of me was one of the prettiest girls in the state of Nevada, Laura Whitson! The last time I saw her was in 1st grade! Just play it cool, Leonidus... She looked me up and down.
"Wait... Aren't you Alyx Leonidus?" She asked.
"Y-Yes! I am!" I replied.
Laura tilted her head and smiled, "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you again! Sorry about walking into you, I guess I was too busy talking instead of paying attention."
I felt my cheeks heat up a bit, "I-It's fine! You don't have to apologize!"
She softly smiled and turned away as a group of people called her name. I finally took a deep breath out.
"Well, it looks like you were on the fritz there for a moment." Sheyenne told me.
"How long have you guys been standing there?" I questioned.
"Pretty much that entire time. Man, you sure are awkward!" Karson laughed.
"A-AWKWARD?!" I exclaimed.
[Several Hours Later...]
I sat at lunch stirring my bowl of soup. Even though I just seen her, she invaded my every thought! Her smile and that little laugh...
"๐๐ฉ, ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ? ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ง๐ญ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ง๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ถ๐ต๐ฆ๐ด?" I thought to myself.
"Hey man, are you alright? You're kinda spacing out there." Joshua spoke.
"Wha-huh? Y-Yeah, yeah, I'm alright!" I smiled.
Everyone nodded and turned their attention back to whatever conversation they were having. Out of all the times to feel like this, why now?
[3 Hours Later...]
The dismissal bell rang and I quickly got out of the classroom. Geometry sure is boring, most of the stuff is pretty easy. As I was walking out, I felt someone wrap around my arm.
"Alyyyyx, are you doing anything today?~" Amanda Vibraine giggled.
"W-Well, besides Quirk training I-" I tried to tell her.
Another girl wrapped around my other arm, "Hey, you wouldn't happen to-
"Hands off, bitch! I was here first!" Amanda exploded.
"Oh, shove off, will you? I'm pretty sure you were bothering him anyway!" The other girl countered.
They argued back and forth with each other, my eyes narrowed out of annoyance and tiredness.
"Yo! Dude! This is totally your chance to have a three-way, bro!" Joshua yelled over to me.
I tensed up and felt my entire face heat up, "T-THAT'S NOT WHAT'S GOING ON, GOT THAT?!"
"You know... That doesn't sound half bad, as long as this other bitch doesn't get in the way." She replied.
I pulled away from them and sighed.
"Listen, I-I have to... Help my parents around the house since my mother hurt her back. Sorry for the inconvenience." I told them.
"Aw... Okay..." They both gloomily responded.
I turned around and walked down the street, trying to think of something other than Laura. Try as I might, I just couldn't, how could a brief interaction like that make me feel this way about her? As I was walking, I saw a boy nervously try and hand her something. I guess I really can't be surprised that she has admirers of her own as well. I stood at the cross walk and waited for it to change.
"Hey! Wait up!" I heard Laura call out.
I stood there; my feet were frozen to the ground. Out of all the times to feel flustered and nervous, now would really, REALLY not be the time! She stood next to me as we waited for the light to change so we could cross.
"Hey, how's it going? It's been a while, how long as it been?" Laura wondered.
"I-I've been fine, thank you. And it's been almost 8 years I think?" I replied.
The light changed and we crossed the street together.
"Wow, you've really gotten taller, huh? Then again, it's been 8 years! I never thought I'd see you again." She smiled.
I looked at her then back at the street ahead. It was mainly silent during our walk, which I guess was good. It was only before I got to the train station to ride back to Reno, she finally spoke up.
"Before you go..." She exclaimed.
I turned around and faced her, "Huh? What is it?"
"Do you think... That we could go get something to eat?" Laura asked.
I was absolutely ecstatic inside! I was also internally screaming out of nervousness. If I did go get something to eat, I'd miss my train back to Reno, but I didn't want her to be upset. Just looking in her eyes told me she was serious about this.
"Y-Yeah! Sure thing. Where'd you want to go?" I questioned.
"It doesn't matter to me, I guess it probably doesn't to you either, so we can decide it on the way there?" She suggested.
I nodded and walked back to her side. We walked away from the station; Laura got closer to me as we got to a certain street. I got the feeling that she wasn't wanting to eat something...
"Hey, you're that Phoenix chick? Come over 'ere, I got something special for-" A man shouted.
I turned my head and looked at him. I think I understand why Laura wanted me to come with her, she didn't want to go eat, she wanted... Protection!
"You need something?" I shouted over to him.
He stood there and looked to the side, we continued to walk through this dingy side of town, was this where she lived? I guess you never would've known by the way she looks and acts. In a way, I feel bad for her, she must've dealt with this stuff every day.
"Hey, Laura," I broke the silence, "You could've just told me you wanted me to walk you home."
She kept looking forward and didn't say a word.
"I'm not annoyed or anything if that's what you're thinking." I reassured her.
We got to a street corner and she stopped walking. Laura finally spoke up.
"B-But I made you miss your train, I'm really sorry about all of this, Alyx." She apologized.
I waved it off, "Hey, you don't need to say sorry to me. I missed my train, so what? I don't mind it."
"Why are you so kind?" She exclaimed.
That question kind of caught me off guard. Why was I so kind?
"I-I mean, you aren't like the other guys that've talked to me or even been around me. You didn't even start a fight with that guy that yelled at us, normally, people rush over to that guy and knock him out." Laura explained.
"So, I'm not the only guy that's walked you home, I'm assuming?" I asked.
"THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT!" She shouted.
"G-Geez! Sorry, take it easy, I was just asking!" I replied.
She sighed and looked down at the ground, "Well, you'd be right. But they'd all end up getting hurt and I... I..."
I saw tears fall from her face and her lip start to quiver. I looked over at the alley that the man shouted from. I activated Gear Two and started walking towards the alleyway.
"W-Wait... W-Where are you going?" She sniffled.
"I'm doing what's right, that's what." I responded.
She ran over and followed me to the alleyway. There the man was, slamming down a bottle of whatever kind of alcohol he was drinking. He must've heard us come into the alleyway.
"H-Hey... You're that dame I know... Come 'ere... L-Let me give you some lovin'!" He slurred.
He approached us, I grabbed his shirt, and then slammed him against a wall. It seemed like it immediately sobered him up!
"You listen to me asshole, you stay away from her, got it? She's got every right to walk these streets without having some creepo jackass like you trying to touch her!" I snapped.
The man retaliated by punching me in the face, which didn't do a single thing to me. He slowly lowered his hand and stared at me in fear as I was unfazed by his punch. I set him down and saw the rest of his buddies walk out of a door.
"Hey, what's going on here?" One of them questioned.
"You guys live here or something?" I asked.
One of the men pulled out a gun, "Yeah, what's it to you?"
I threw that guy over to them and he quickly ran behind them. I pushed Laura behind me and my Overdrive aura intensified.
"I suggest you put the gun down. Now." I demanded.
"As if! You're toast kid!" The gunman shouted.
I smirked as he fired off his gun, dozens of bullets flew right at me.
"ALYX!" Laura screamed.
I caught all of the bullets in my hand and dropped them onto the ground. The men all looked stunned and the look of fear was in their eyes.
"So, what now? Are you all gonna just stand there like a bunch of pussies or what?" I taunted.
They all looked at each other and rushed me. I smiled and charged towards them as well. One guy punched me, which I ducked, and he hit the guy behind me. I popped up with an uppercut that sent his head flying into another guy's chin. I spun around and elbowed the gunman, he slammed against a dumpster, and just like that I wiped all of them out! Except for the guy that started this in the first place. I bounced on my feet and smiled at him.
"What's wrong? Scared? This must be a first for you guys, huh? Trust me, I can keep this up any day of the week! If you losers wanna keep it up, expect to be on your asses every single damn day, fucking rejects!" I laughed.
The man stumbled backwards and flung the door open. He ran inside of the building and locked the door. I deactivated Gear Two and faced Laura.
I cracked my knuckled and popped my neck, "That solves that. Now, if you're really wanting to get something to eat, we can do that."
Laura nodded and we left the alleyway. The entire walk she still didn't say anything, she just kept looking down.
"I want to go home." She quietly spoke.
I looked at her and nodded. I followed her to her house, which wasn't actually in this neighborhood, thankfully. It took us about ten minutes to get there from the alleyway. I stood in front of her house and sighed.
"Phew, that was quite the walk! Well, I should get going now." I told her.
"Can you come inside, just for a bit?" Laura asked.
W-WHAT?! Going inside... Of a girl's house?! I felt my face burn up, what if her parents are home? I really don't think I could handle the pressure from them...
"O-Okay! Sure!" I nervously smiled.
I followed her inside and she sat down on a couch, she simply patted next to her and I sat down.
*THIRD PERSON*
"Why... Why would you do that for someone like me?" Laura questioned.
Alyx looked at her and started to blush. He wasn't sure whether to tell her how he really felt or to just keep it to himself. He leaned forward and stared at the window in front of him.
"It's because I... I-I just couldn't sit there and do nothing about it. I saw the pain in your eyes when you told me about why you wanted me to walk with you. Whatever he or those guys did to you, you won't have to worry about it anymore, I promise. I-I promise to walk you home every day from school from now on, just in case! It wouldn't be okay with me if I just let you walk by yourself from now on or with someone who could easily get overwhelmed. I don't even think I could live with myself if I let that happen." Alyx explained.
Laura took in Alyx's heartfelt explanation. She remembered all of the times that Alyx stood up for her when they were younger. Although the two hadn't talked frequently, he defended her whenever she was treated unfairly or unjustly. The smile he gave her whenever he stood up for her stayed in her mind, which was the same smile he gave her after he beat up the thugs in the alleyway. Her arms stiffened and her hands twitched as she began to sniffle. Laura fell into Alyx which caused his face to turn bright red.
"๐๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฎ... ๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ'๐ท๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐บ ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด, ๐ช๐ต ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฏ'๐ต ๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ช๐ต ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ช๐ง ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ณ๐ต, ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฆ. ๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ'๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ข ๐ฃ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ, ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ค๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ข๐จ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ด๐ต ๐ช๐ต. ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฏ'๐ต ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ... ๐๐ฉ๐บ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ด๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฏ'๐ต ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ธ? ๐ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ซ๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ข ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ๐จ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ, ๐บ๐ฆ๐ต, ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ด ๐ช๐ง ๐ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ'๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐บ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ด... ๐๐ฉ๐บ?" Laura thought to herself.
Alyx wrapped his arm around her which caused her to let out a small surprised gasp. Alyx looked to the side and simpered.
[5 Hours Later...]
*LEONIDUS' P.O.V.*
I laid in my bed and stared up at the ceiling. My phone vibrated a few times and I sat up. Did someone text me or something? I grabbed my phone and my eyes widened.
"EEEEEEEEE!" I quietly exclaimed with glee.
Laura added me on all of my social media accounts! I couldn't believe it!
"Okay... Okay... Take it easy... It's currently 9:30 on a school night, she most likely thinks you're asleep, so don't. Do. Anything." I muttered to myself.
I stared at my phone, "Ah fuck it, it's been a few minutes since she did that."
I added her back on everything that she followed me on. Within seconds, she accepted my requests! I laid back down on my bed and smiled. She had a whole bunch of followers on Tramble, like, a whole lot! I wonder how many of her followers were her admirers? I refreshed Tramble and saw that she posted something a couple minutes ago.
"Huh? What's that?" I wondered.
I looked at her post, it looked like some sort of drawing, it was a symbol? Actually, it looks kinda strange, it was just a circle with what looked like a tail? There were other things surrounding it, mainly hearts and other things. I didn't know she was good at art! There wasn't a caption on it, so I didn't have much to go off of. I exited out of the app and laid back down to go to bed.
[The Next Day...]
At lunch, I sat down with Sheyenne, Joshua, and Karson. They were really the only people I sat with; I mean, I get along with everyone at school, it's just that we've known each other forever!
"So, what'd you do last night, Alyx?" Sheyenne asked.
"Oh? Me? Nothing really? I just rode the train back home like usual, you know, another exciting day in the life of Alyx Leonidus." I replied.
Joshua leaned back in his chair, "Come on man, you're telling me you're a rich kid and you don't do anything besides go home and do nothing? I'd be buying all sorts of new shit with all that money! Your parents were the former #3 Pro Heroes a few years ago, right?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I don't want to work for things. What else do you think I do outside of school on the weekends? I'm mainly running errands for people for money." I told him.
They looked at me dumbfoundedly, "You seriously don't know how to take the easy road, do you?"
I shook my head and laughed, but then something caught my eye. A group of people were crowded around Laura. One person felt her hair which she pulled away from him. I think that the others saw it as well.
"Damn, is she getting picked on?" Karson wondered.
"Looks more like harassment. Look at those fuckin' bozos." Sheyenne added.
My body seemingly moved on its own, I got up and walked over to her. I was completely zoned out, so I didn't hear whatever Joshua was saying to me. I pulled the chair out that was right next to her.
"H-Hey! Sorry about that, I had to help Mr. Porter out with something." I smiled.
I sat down and finally got a look at everyone, it was Mikey and his group of friends.
"Oh, look at this, it's Little Leonidus!" Mikey mocked.
"It's nice to see you again, Mikey! You still dealing with that little package problem... Oh, oops! I said too much!" I kept smiling.
His friends looked at him and waited for his response, he slammed his hand on the table.
"S-Shut it, Leonidus! You don't know a fucking thing about me! I'm gonna kick your fucking ass!" Mikey yelled.
I stood up from my chair which I didn't think he expected. I locked eyes with him and didn't blink.
"You do that, I'll make sure you're paralyzed from the neck down. Hey, who knows, maybe your skull would look great if I used it as my next pottery project? What was your Quirk again? I must've forgot since it's nothing compared to mine, I'd have you flatlined within seconds, maybe even milliseconds. Now, are you sure you're gonna kick my ass?" I warned.
Mikey stood silently, he growled and stomped away from us. The lunchroom went from quiet to its regular chatter.
"Thank you. Sorry that I couldn't defend myself." Laura told me.
"It's fine, I understand. It's hard to do anything when you're cornered like that, so I don't blame you." I replied.
I can't believe that I couldn't look at her while I'm saying this stuff. Was I really falling for her?