1 The New Girl

It's cold outside today. The cold front has been here since early July. It's summer and the temperature is less than 50 degrees. I got my school bag and walked out the door.

"I'm heading out!" I said then walked off.

"Mmkay, see you soon!" My mother called out from the kitchen.

I walked to the academy, surrounding myself with heat energy I generated from my body. My name is Steven Hemifiru, I am a second year at Nakashima Academy. I don't really like going there. The people with powerful prey on the weak and the weak are defenseless, School Wars are always rigged, and no one is romantically interested in me. I don't care for all of that though..I just want to get by on the norm.

"Looooook Oooout!!" A girl yelled then crashed her bike into me then flew out her seat. I fell upon impact and groaned.

"E..Erika..." I groaned.

"Ehehe...good morning..?" She rubbed the back of her head.

Erika was my careless best friend since Middle School. She was a clutz since elementary, but we barely hung out in elementary. Her abilities are average in the ranks of the school so we ended being in the commoners list.

The school consists of the Commoner Ranking, Elite Ranking, The Master Ranking. Erika is one step away from Elite, but because my ability is seen as useless I'm in the lower commoner rank.

"No it's not a good morning! You crashed into me! Besides you don't have a lisence yet why are you driving your dad's scooter?" I got up and dusted my clothes off.

"I'm learning to drive it well. When I get my lisence I'm driving around the whole country of Japan!" Erika smiled.

"Good luck." I said, in a sarcastic tone and walked past her.

"W-Wait! You don't mean that at all!" Erika puffed her cheeks.

"Whatever." I smiled. Erika smiled then got back on the scooter.

I walked into the academy and walked to my class and saw writings and notes on my desk. I sighed and sat down. I opened my eyes and saw a group of guys walk to me and I looked at their leader.

"What do you want this time? Money? I ain't got nothing on me today boys.." I closed my eyes.

"You disgust me..walking around the school like you're a hot shot.." The leader gripped my shirt.

"Okay? What is there to be scared of? None of you scare me..go ahead beat me up. It ain't nothing that this academy has seen before.." I opened my eyes.

"Hey! You five let go of him!" Erika stormed in the class.

"Tch...you're lucky your little girlfriend came to save you again.." The leader dropped me and walked off as the guys followed.

"Steven.." Erika looked at my desk. "This doesn't affect you?"

"You grow used to it." I shrugged.

"Tell me...why'd you purposely fail those exams..? I've known you since Middle School, we ran the entire Middle School..! You were student body president! You were known as the Reigning King..what happened?" Erika asked.

I was just silent as I looked at my desk. I didn't want to tell her why I stopped using my power. No one, but those delinquents bother me so there isn't a reason to fit in the top spot.

"I just don't think it's important to want to fit in the top spot. I'd rather focus on my classes.." I turned my head.

"You said the same thing our first year..." Erika puffed her left cheek.

"I know..and the reasons still stand. I could care less about being the top of the school.." I placed my bag on my desk.

The bell rang and everyone took their seat as the teacher walked to the front of the class. Erika looked at me then at the teacher.

"Good morning class. Today we have a new transfer student from Algeria!" The teacher smiled.

The class mumbled and whispered to each other. It was strange for transfer students to come to the most prestige academy ability wise and academic wise. This school is strict about who they let in.

"You can come in!" The teacher called out..

A girl walked to the teacher. She had long black hair. Her eyes were a dark hazel color. She was a beautiful girl. When she appeared the class grew quiet. I looked at the girl and sat back in my seat. The girl turned to the front of the class and took a deep breath.

"H-Hello..my name is Lia..I am from Algeria and I hope we all can be great friends!" Lia bowed. The class was silent and looked at her.

"Lia, there is a seat right next to Steven." The teacher said. "Steven raise your hand so Lia knows who you are."

I raised my hand only a bit then put my hand down. The class watched at Lia walked over to her seat and then they looked at me salty. The teacher then started to teach class.

The bell rang for class to end and I got my bad and stood up then walked out the class. Erika quickly followed. Lia watched me and looked at my desk and her face went pale. The students then walked to her desk and asked her questions.

"Steven, are you sure you're okay?" Erika asked as she watched me get a drink from the vending machine.

"Yeah why?" I opened the drink and leaned against the wall.

"I don't know..just I don't like seeing you get bullied when you know you can stop it! I-" Erika paused as I looked at her.

"I'm not gonna show my powers just to be left alone..Besides even if I was the strongest in the school there's a chance I still wouldn't be respected..can't please everyone.." I said.

"That's the thing! If you did show your power, you could be left alone! At least they wouldn't bully you." Erika leaned against the rails in the hall and watched the students walk and talk to their friends.

I looked at Erika. She really worried for me, a lot. Our bond was strong, we did rule the whole Middle School together. I then looked ahead and saw Lia walking with a few other people. Lia saw me and waved then smiled.

"That's Steven right?" Lia asked one of the guys with her.

"You shouldn't go near him..he's known as the weakest and he's very unpopular.. it's best to avoid the commoners in the school. You're a Master Rank from your name on the list." The guy said.

I closed my eyes and threw the can away and walked down the stairs. Erika followed and sighed. She held onto my sleeve and looked at me.

"Steven! Ma man!" A boy came running to me with another girl.

"Yes, Sato?" I rose an eyebrow. "Why'd you drag Aisha with you?"

"N-No! It's okay Steven-sama! I mean kun!" Aisha blushed and looked away.

Sato was my friend since my first year in the academy and I met Aisha at orientation. If you already didn't know, we are all Commoner Ranking in the academy. Sato's ability is the power of Lightning. Aisha's ability is the power of healing. Ericka's ability was versatile between Extreme Defense and Raw Power.

"Come to the battlefield with us! Powerful high level students are sparring! No one wants-"

"I'll pass." I interrupted Sato then walked off.

"W-What?! Wait up!" Sato said and followed with the others. "You're skipping that again?"

"Yep..there is no reason to even go." I said.

"The new girl will be there. Uh..Lia was her name." Sato walked in front of me and stopped me. "I know why you don't want to go. You're the weakest in the school..it can be hard watching people more powerful than you..trust me it hurts me a lot."

"That's not the reason..I just don't want to go." I walked past him.

Lia watched me and my friends talked then heard her name being called and followed her friends. She looked back and looked worried.