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"Welcome back home, lads. Let's begin," a middle age man announced to the students inside the portal room.

The room was dome shaped just like the one on Luxus. It felt like they haven't even left the blue planet yet. Behind the middle aged man were two female teachers as well. One was tall and skinny, with large glasses sitting prettily on her long nose, serving as a fashion touch rather than for better eyesight purpose. Laura Black wore skimpy brown skirts under a short brown coat. She smile broadly as she scanned the children under her glasses.

The other lady was a much younger one, One could even mistake her for one of the students. She tied her black hair in a bun, was on jumpers and sleek sneaker shoes. She looks like one befitting a sports teacher, but she wasn't. Her name was Amelia Grenn and she wasn't really in the mood for this early morning 'student welcoming'. Her sullen face testified to her lack of sleep.

"This here by my right is Mrs Laura Black, and the small lady by my left is Amelia Grenn. And my name is Hunter Man. Yes, Hunter Man. We welcome you once again."

"Don't call me small," Amy interrupted with a sunken voice." Hunter smiled a little to himself but didn't reply Amy.

"I won't be the one to orientate you on what this academy is all about. We have the first year head teacher, Mrs Laura. But before any adressing, you will follow me now to get your room numbers. You need a little rest before the first test is taken. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Mr Man," the students chorused, waiting for that moment ever since they heard his name.

Hunter laughed so hard at the turn his name has taken. "C'mon, that sounds so awkward. Just call me Hunter, okay? Now follow me."

Hunter seems like an interesting individual and Leo seemed to take a liking of him immediately. Hopefully, he'll get along with him in the nearest future. He tagged along with the other students, still staying behind, walking slowly so nobody will have any excuse to unleash hidden anger on him. But it seems the red-haired boy is not giving up. He has doubled back to throw some taunts.

"Still backing up? I heard your name is Leo. Why then are you acting like a chicken?"

"I...I... Nothing..." Leo stuttered. He couldn't believe he's scared of a boy his age. He couldn't help it either. The boy's intense gaze and the fiery hair is just too terrific to handle.

"A stuttering chicken? Interesting. Or should I just grill the stuttering out of you? I can be a very good cook, see?"

Leo just continued walking slowly, trying not to meet the boy's gaze.

"C'mon Jade, don't waste your time with that loser. It's just a waste of taunt. Let's go," some ash-coloured hair boy called out to the red hair bully. Jade threw another of his threatening stares at Leo before running off to join his mates.

"So, your name is Jade, Huh? Why won't yoy just ignore me? What have I don't to you?" Leo asked himself, full of self-pity.

By the time he got to the staff room for his room number, it was just remaining three boys and a girl yet to get their numbers. Leo lined behind the girl who was last on the row.

"Sorry, are you the last on the row?" Leo whispered at the girl.

"As you can see," the girl shot back, her eyes staring daggers. Leo recoiled instantly, blaming himself for asking the obvious. This planet is not a friendly place anymore, Leo discovered. Nobody is ready to become friends with a loser like him. Only those with advanced quirks or from a rich family has the attention of others. The rest can go impale their guts on a sword for all they care.

"Yoro Alarne, room 34... Quinn Woddel, room 72... Yvonne Tyson, girls dorm, room 21..." The staff assigning the numbers called. The students got their tags and scampered out of the staff room. Only Leo remained.

"What's your name, glum?" the dark skinned, wrinkle-infested-faced staff asked with a slight smirk.

"You already decided sir," Leo answered while bowing his head in fake respect. This teacher has already annoyed him at first sight. How can a staff decide to treat a young student that way, calling him 'glum' without thinking.

"Woah, we already have a first year problem on our hands. I was expecting you guys to at least settle before we find a scapegoat, but here we are. Follow me, boy." The man stood up, ready to leave the office. But someone in the large staff room stopped him. It was Hunter Man.

"Wait, Al. Pardon him another strike. He's a newbie after all," Hunter called from behind a book he was reading. The staff named Al stopped in his strides, took a very deep breath to calm his nerves and turned back towards Leo. "You better tell me your name this time, or even a thousand Hunter won't be able to stop what I'll do to you."

"My name's Leo, sir. Leo Rayden." He found it surprising that he wasn't even a bit scared of the man.

Al suddenly closed his eyes as if he was trying to remember something. After about 5 seconds, he opened them and said, "well, the academy on Luxus didn't submit anybody's file named Leo Rayden. You have to complete the lessons there for them to submit your files. Did you skip tests and smuggle yourself back here?"

"I didn't do any tests, sir. I..."

"I know him. Get his information and upload his file into the database. He's not a fake." Hunter had jumped in again. This time, he was walking towards them with his book.

Al was visibly angry. "Is this some sort of favouritism that wasn't communicated with the rest of the staff? What family does he belong to that he has that much power to bypass the system? Even the boy from The Morningbolt family had to do his tests on Luxus."

"Relax, Al. We got the message shortly before the students started arriving. Loca dropped a card through the portal with little Leo's name on it. So, yes, he was recommended by Captain Loca Reiss."

At the mention of that name, Al suddenly became calm. He even has a hint of fear in his eyes. He said calmly, "you should have said that at first, Hunter. Who is the boy? What crazy quirk does he have?"

"I don't know, ask him." Hunter then returned to his seat.

"That doesn't even matter. I will get that info later." Al opened a drawer and brought out a new key card. With a little table device, he designed the name 'Leo Rayden' in blazing red colour across the blue card. It was a VIP card. "Take this, and approach the VIP dorm at the last floor. Your room number is number 1."

Leo's eyes went wide with shock at the sudden turn of event. Just the mention of Loca Reiss from Luxus has changed everything in his favour. Now, Al thinks Leo is either from one of the most powerful families on Earth or that he has a very powerful quirk that requires a direct recommendation from Loca.

Leo then remembered when Loca had dipped his hand into the portal to show to the students that it was not harmful. He must have hidden the name card so well that the students couldn't see it. Once again, he was grateful for Loca's help.

Leo collected the blue VIP card and turned to leave the staff quarters. Hunter called out as he was leaving, "we have high expectations, Leo Rayden. Good luck and welcome!"

Leo didn't turn to reply him. He opened the heavy door and stepped out of the room into the warmer lobby. With delight, he turned the card skillfully in his fingers. If what he was thinking is true, then it means with the VIP card, he will most definitely have a room to himself. That was a very safe way to get himself out of trouble. No roommate will bother him unnecessarily, no roommate will use him as target practice because he doesn't have an active quirk.

But the more he thought about it, the more he found himself in deeper trouble. If news got around of an unknown boy who lives in the VIP section, he will attract more attention to himself and therefore become a target for power hungry boys. Did Loca just indirectly set him up for his doom instead of his freedom then?

Leo was indeed worried.

Following the signs on the finely decorated walls, he got to the elevator space and clicked on the last floor which was on the 7th storey. As soon as he stepped in, the door closed and it started ascending. A soft music filtered out through a hidden speaker in the elevator. Shortly after, it stopped and the doors slid open.

His assigned room was easy to locate as there are not many rooms on this floor. I mean, it's the VIP section.

"Yiss, room number one, here I come." Leo pressed the button on the door and it opened up to the grandest interior design anyone could ever imagine, according to Leo. Without a rush, he stopped into the soft carpeted floor, looking up and around the room. The settings are just too otherworldly to behold.

But...

"WHAT?! YOU CHICKEN?!!..."

Leo turned sharply when he heard the scream only to see the person he never ever wanted to set his eyes on, sitting in a corner in the room...

"Stars, no." Leo lamented internally.