Chapter 57

"And that was how I spent my summer." I lightly shrugged my shoulders as I stirred the straw in my drink. "There really wasn't anything exciting going on, so it was a bit boring on my end."

The three of them were quiet as the stared at me. --Although, Uiharu doesn't even stop eating her cake as she does so.--

"Wait, so let me get this straight." Said Saten as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "You finished the summer homework early-" "Yeah." "-You also did shifts and patrols for Judgment-" "Uh-huh." "-In addition, you also did volunteer work at, get this, multiple hospitals in multiple prefectures? That alone can easily take up half the vacation just like last year." "Pretty much." "Of course, not to mention all that other stuff you were doing for your first gallery exhibition." "Right. There's also some other stuff on the side but yeah."

"That's not helping your case, Shuzenji-san." Sighed Uiharu.

"...Dude, do you ever take a break?" Said Haru, incredulously.

"Hn? Well..." I cupped my chin in thought. "Painting is a hobby of mine?"

Saten shook her head with half-lidden eyes. "Even if it is, the fact that you're opening an exhibit for them disqualifies it as a viable option for rest. Work is still work, even if you enjoy it."

"I mean, don't they say that if you make a job out of your hobby, then it wouldn't feel like a job at all?" I said with a raised eyebrow.

Haru snorted at that as Saten answered. "Yeah, sure, go ahead and do that. Eventually, your job would suck out all the happiness from your hobby and turn you into another mindless husk."

"That sounds personal... Is that personal?" I asked a bit uneasily but she just shrugged.

"Shuzenji-san, the point of the matter is that you should take a break." Said Uiharu, steering the conversation. "Free time is important. Take it from me, I would have burned out a long time ago if I only ever worked or trained. Sometimes it's healthy to take a stop and smell the flowers."

I was going to say something but as soon as I opened my mouth I was interrupted by Haru.

"Right! That calls it!" Half-shouted Haru as he stood up with a slam on the table, ignoring the startled gazes of the other people in the restaurant. "Lieutenant Saten!" "Sir!" "We are going to drag this workaholic to have some real fun! First stop, the arcade!" "Sir, Yessir!"

"Eh?" Taking advantage of my temporary confusion at their act, the two of them grabbed either of my arms and proceeded to 'escort' my body out. "Eh?" Leaving behind my still confused head floating in the air. Luckily, Uiharu stayed behind a bit to finish her sweet treat so once she was done, she took my head and went out to follow the other two.

When I was about to answer Uiharu, just as I was interrupted by Haru, I originally wanted to say that I wasn't working myself to an early grave. After what happened last time, Kuroko made sure to keep an eye on my workload and take me out on a date just so I can relax for a bit whenever she can. Or when she isn't able to, she calls me up just to chat for a bit while doing homework or doing the files for the Tokiwadai branch of Judgment. She's honestly too good to me. I've made it a point to spoil her whenever I can, whether it was food, attention or magic.

Anyway, although I was confused for a bit as they the trio dragged me along, I ultimately decided against protesting or turning down their kindness. It's nice to hang out with friends after all.

~~~~~~~~~~

'Ugh. Was formal wear always been this uncomfortable?' I grimaced inwardly but on the outside I kept my business smile plastered on my face.

These past few days is coming along well at least. I've been dreading it for a while now but seeing it all fall into place is worth the effort.

My own art gallery.

Nothing too big, mind you. The place I rented out only has enough space for a small café. Granted, it's only been open for a few days and shut down tomorrow but that's fine too. It's also fun when people inquired about my works or when an occasional visitor takes a pamphlet for me to sign, there aren't really a lot of people who comes in to buy a piece but mostly just people like art students or the occasional Other artists that dropped by for a good time viewing. That's fine too, I never opened the gallery. for the money to begin with.

Granny came by during the opening to say few words of encouragement and look around the pieces she hasn't seen yet. All Might in his skinny form --He can still change into that?-- also dropped by to show his support. My friends couldn't make it, one; because some of them are still in Academy City and getting permission to go out is a major pain, and two; because Hii-chan's group isn't allowed to go out to riskier places that can catch too much attention. Kuroko couldn't drop by for the same reasons as my friends, but I was more than happy to oblige her request for a video call over the area instead.

In addition to the regular mundane yet quirked people that came by, My gallery was also visited by passing tourist mages --Thankfully not of the church-- and the occasional troublemaking sticks. Those guys are nothing but deranged or stubborn, highly possibly both.

There had also been other unique visitors, mostly in the form of heteromorphs, those who gained mutations into accordance to their quirks. One such instance is the woman walking over in my direction when I was in an particularly empty corner.

She is tall- no scratch that. She is Really Tall. Easily at least two meters in height(201cm/6'6ft), an obvious albino in her skin and hair, long legs and a gracefully lithe figure. She wore a royal blue shoulderless dress with silky gloves covering her slender hands, a glittering spiderweb necklace that covers her shoulders and chest and an odd half crown --Not a tiara, I noted-- with dull spikes made of some dark metal.

The woman paused her steps a pace away in front of me. She's a lot more intimidating up close. Her height easily trumps over my own, being only at 142cm(4'6ft). Just you wait for my growth spurt, I'll be the one looking down on others.

"You are the artist, correct?" She said

"Yeah." I nodded. "The name's Shuzenji Kuzuki."

"Abigail Brightfield." She nodded back. "Do tell me, false shade-" My business smile dimmed a little and my guard went up. "-To what extent were those madmen right? And to what extent were they wrong?"

"... I'm afraid I don't quite understand?" Having a fight break out here is very much not optional.

"Your work." She leaned her down to me, her hair casting her face in shadows. "All of it. Every single one. They were made by your hand, depicted from your mind, and adjusted to your will, yet, they hold none of your essence. Of who you are and what you are."

"..."

"Do you still not comprehend? Or are you merely baffled?" She sighed. "What I am asking, is whether or not the madmen were right, in that you show not what you truly are, and show only of what is assumed of you."

Ah. I think I get it. "Might I remind you that this is a public space? One primarily catered for the mundane?"

"And what if it is? Do you fear rejection? Of what they will think of if they knew of our kind?"

Kuroko already knows. And so does Touma. "Do I look like I care for what the mob thinks? What I meant is that I have a life on this side. I'd rather blend in here than to join those in wallowing despair, self-pity and hatred that most of us choose to engage in."

"...I suppose that you found a place to truly call your own. Few others of our kind rarely do so, that in pursuit of one such instance would lead to greatness."

"Does said 'greatness' involve corrupting one's very being?" I snided.

She looked directly into my eyes as I kept a continuous glare. A few seconds pass by before she slowly set her head back straight and broke eye contact.

"So it seems. Good." She pulled out a business card and gave it to me. "If you ever feel the need to mingle with fellow artists on the other side, contact this number."

"Uh-huh." It didn't feel like it was cursed or anything but I didn't take it immediately. "And what's the catch?"

"The catch is that you keep an open mind. As you may know, eccentrics are quite common amongst us."

When I finally took the card, she immediately left. Looking at the card, it was an onyx black with platinum letters. Printed on it was only a number and the words 'Inkfall Society'.

And I couldn't help but think that it was an odd way to end my day.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Been a while since I've had that card, but I was pretty busy myself. For one, other than shifts at both Judgment and at the hospital, there was also the fact that I kept up with Yotsuya-san and her grandual realignment to the supernatural. After the last lesson, she got even more self confidence and was good enough to cast simple warding.

There was also the fact that I was kept busy with more people --Usually retired heroes and veterans-- coming over to whichever hospital I was working with at the time to help with their issues after news got out of my capabilities. It wasn't really a lot, but that's thanks to the fact that I normally work at Academy City. I could only sigh at my future workload once I graduated and left the safety of the walls for the city state.

When I inquired about the society from Dusk's Grace, Cen just started laughing and pat my shoulder saying 'Good for you.' which didn't really answer anything. I did try prying from Reiko-nee but she didn't know them either. In any case, when I sent a letter to Nanna asking about the Inkfall society, she said that she didn't have any clue as to what it is. She did say that she'll investigate for a price, which is understandable so I'm still waiting for that one.

School was as usual as always, save for the occasional side eyes. There was also the fact that things started to settle down mostly, with crime rate being lowered. Even the usual repeat offending delinquents weren't anywhere, let alone the thugs that normally prowl in darker alleys.

Konori-senpai, Kuroko and even Uiharu agreed that it was probably the eye of the storm and that someone is plotting something. Judgment offices all over are keeping a wary guard just in case for when it all blows up eventually.