"Gentarō"

I'm amazed by the amount of time it takes Gentarō to fix my wall. I know boosters move a lot faster with their enhanced physical capabilities, but damn, I've never seen someone move so fast in my life. We still have 45 minutes to get to class, which is the exact amount of time it takes me to walk to school, if I'm not harassed on the way of course. "I've never heard of someone joining Acolyte High School after freshman year... Actually, isn't it required to join Acolyte High School during freshman year?" I ask, leading Gentarō to the school.

"I'm sure it is, but I have special circumstances, so I think I'll be allowed to join." He grins goofily.

"Special circumstances..?" I give him a confused glance.

"Something I'd prefer not to talk about, if that's okay with you." He chuckles, though his goofy grin doesn't waver.

"A-Alright... Sorry I asked."

"It's fine, I asked you a personal question that you also didn't wanna answer, so we're even." He slaps me on the back.

"O-Ow! Y-Yeah..." I chuckle nervously, recalling his words. "What's wrong with being a booster?" My smile fades as I recall the many memories of being bullied. I'm not looking forward to a whole new year of it, nor the two years after that. "I can't believe I didn't get a lyte..." I think to myself, clenching the strap of my school bag as I continue walking forward.

"Hey, chin up, you don't gotta feel bad about it dude." Gentarō frowns as he notices the depressing air around me.

"Don't worry, it's not you that's making me act like this... This is just...how I normally am now." I sigh.

"Now..?" Gentarō tilts his head.

"We're here." I say as I see the school building up ahead.

"Oh wowwwwww...the place is massive!" He rushes past me toward the school.

"W-Wait up!" I quickly run after him, worried he might run into one of the other types of acolytes, or worse, a whole group of them. I'm surprised enough as it is that we didn't run into any on the way to school, but on school grounds that's an entirely different story. As long as it's not in class, the staff don't care if students fight here, whether it be outside, the cafeteria, or even the school halls themselves. Property damage is always fixed by the time we arrive at school the next day, no matter how much is caused.

The school's policy is, "Working on your acolyte powers is a must at this school, if you aren't strong enough to defend yourself, then let the beating you receive be a lesson to keep improving" after all. Unfortunately for us boosters, that's an everyday thing that we can't control. Can someone please tell me how a fabricator type booster like myself, who can only boost other people's physical traits and powers, is supposed to make myself stronger to defend myself against these assholes everyday?

The only skill I've learned from the constant beatings I've received is how to run faster whenever I piss a non-booster off. This is why I'm able to keep up with Gentarō as he runs through the halls, surprisingly not bumping into a single person, all the way to the student aid office. As for my stamina...let's just say my legs are sore as hell and I'm panting like I just ran a marathon once we stop in the office. "Wow, you can keep up with me?! That's amazing, um..." Gentarō laughs awkwardly. "Oh yeah, what's your name by the way?"

I continue to pant, spitting out my name between my heavy breaths. "G...Genta... Also...how did you know...where to go..?"

"Well I read the signs in the halls, duh. But would you look at that, we practically have the same name!" He laughs.

I think to myself, "He was able to read while running that fast?!"

The counselor behind the desk clears her throat. "Can I help you boys with something?"

"Oh, sorry." Gentarō smiles. "I'm a new student here. I was wondering if I could maybe get my uniform?"

"Oh, of course. What's your name?" She asks.

"I'm Gentarō! Just Gentarō."

"Hm? I don't see your name on the freshman list."

"That's probably because I'm joining the sophomore year." He laughs.

"You do know that to start at this school you have to join freshman year, right?" The counselor asks.

"Oh, sorry, I'm the special student or whatever you wanna call me. The one with special circumstances."

She pauses for a moment and she snaps her fingers. "Oh yes, I remember now. Sorry about that, I'll go get your uniform."

"Thanks!" Gentarō grins and the counselor walks off to get his uniform. I'm really starting to wonder what these special circumstances might be, but I'm not one to pry, so I'll just stop worrying about it for now.

The counselor comes out with his uniform, handing it to him. "Here you go! Hurry up and change before classes start, the first bell's already rung."

"First bell?" Gentarō tilts his head.

"First bell is when we should be heading to class, the second is when we should be in our classrooms, and the third bell is what signal's class to start." I explain to him.

"Ohhhhh, alright let's hurry then!" He rushes out the door and I turn to follow him.

"Is there anything you needed, Genta?" The counselor asks me before I'm fully out the door.

I turn back to her and smile nervously. "No, I'm just helping him out."

"Really now? Are you even going to slave away to another booster? That's a bit sad..." She sighs.

I frown and turn away. "It's not like that..." I rush out the door before she can respond, waiting by the restroom I see Gentarō rush into. All over the halls I see excited freshman running through the halls, and boosters of sophomore, junior, and senior year being bullied by their peers. Seeing other boosters getting bullied frustrates me to no end, but I know if I get involved I'll only end up in the same position. I can't even look mad about it or the other acolytes will see me and ask me what my problem is, which will also lead to a beating one way or another. All I can do is stand here with a blank expression on my face and stare at the ground, hoping I won't be targeted.

The second bell rings and Gentarō comes rushing out in his uniform. "Ahhhhh! Let's go let's go!"

I jump. "Wait, what's your first class?"

"History!"

"Alright, follow me, I have the same class." I race-walk down the hall to history class. Thankfully none of the meaner bullies are in the halls or they'd kick our butts just for being annoying.

"Come on Genta! We gotta run or we'll be late!" Gentarō shouts at me.

"Okay okay! Calm down, it's not that far!" I quickly start running to class with Gentarō close behind, and we make it to the classroom with five minutes to spare.

"Heck yeah! Up top!" He holds his hand up for me to high five him.

I smile, not too out of breath since the classroom wasn't too far. "Yeah..." I bring up my hand to high five him.

"Well look who decided to show up!" My hand stops before it meets Gentarō's and I tense up a bit. One of my bullies, Baki, a Hard Acolyte with a big build, spiky blond hair, and sky blue eyes approaches me. "I almost feel like I should punish you for almost showing up late, Genta." He chuckles, placing his hand on my shoulder.

I shiver and smile nervously. "T-There's no need for that..."

"You must be one of Genta's friends. What's up? I'm Gentarō, a new student, nice to meet you." Gentarō grins.

Baki holds back a laugh and smirks. "Yeah, whatever new guy. Hey Genta, since we're friends, you'll be helping me out with a fight after school today. Some punk decided to mouth off to me."

"U-Um..." I mumble. "I-I can't... My parents are both gonna be home tonight... I rarely ever get to see them both, so..." Baki's hair and eyes turn a tan color and glow as he hardens his right arm and punches me in the gut, my body slamming into the wall. I grunt and fall onto my hands and knees, coughing and wheezing, the other students in the class that aren't boosters chuckling quietly.

"I wasn't asking. You either show up, or I kick your ass instead. So what's it gonna be Genta?" Baki smirks, punching his fist into his other palm that hardens as well. My eyes darken and I clench my fists lightly. Looks like I once again have no choice but to just follow orders like a dog. All fabricator type boosters are treated like this. If we don't do as we're told and boost the other acolytes' abilities, this is what happens.

I look up to answer Baki, but the sight before me makes my voice hitch and my eyes widen. I see Gentarō tap Baki's shoulder, Baki looking over as Gentarō jumps up, wraps his legs around Baki's head, flips forward, and slams Baki into the ground, landing beside Baki's body perfectly, all without even activating his booster ability. "How about neither you prick?" He smiles the same dorky way he always has been, and everyone in the classroom is shocked into silence.