[Third Person Pov]
While the principal continued leading the group through the campus, enthusiastically pointing out buildings and facilities, Tony found himself walking a little behind, engaged in conversation with his cousin Eric.
"So," Tony asked casually, hands tucked into his pockets, "what's the entrance exam like here?"
Eric adjusted the strap of his bag and answered without much fuss. "You'll have to take two exams: a written exam and a practical one. Based on your results, you'll be labeled either a Hero-course student or a Sidekick-course student."
"A hero or a sidekick?" Momo repeated immediately, her eyes widening in surprise as she turned toward him.
"Yes," Eric said with a nod, clearly used to the reaction. "As you should all know by now, not everyone is born with extraordinary quirks. Some people possess the power, control, and raw potential needed to rise as full-fledged heroes. Others don't have that same level of strength, but they're still determined to help people and pursue the path of heroism. For those students, the school offers the Sidekick course."
He paused briefly before continuing, his tone growing more serious. "And then there are those who simply don't have the talent—or the aptitude—required to survive in the field at all. Those students aren't admitted."
Eric stopped talking when he noticed the expressions on their faces. After a moment, he sighed softly. "It's not as cruel as you're probably thinking. This system exists for their own benefit. If someone who lacks the strength or ability tries to become a hero, they'll only end up getting themselves—or the people they're trying to protect—killed. The school's goal is to protect those students while still encouraging them to grow if they have the potential."
Melissa frowned slightly, clearly thinking it over. "Can you still get promoted from the Sidekick course?" she asked. "Or are you permanently stuck as a sidekick until you graduate?"
"Of course you can move up," Eric replied calmly. "You'd need recommendations from all your teachers and you'd have to pass a re-evaluation exam. It's mainly for students whose quirks were underdeveloped at first but later managed to bring out their full potential."
'So it's kind of like Lemillion,' Tony thought. Even so, he couldn't help but frown. "I'm guessing there's still some kind of hierarchy system in place," he said. "Please tell me I'm not about to meet some snobbish young master from a wealthy family who tells me I've 'failed to see Mount Tai' before crippling my meridians."
Momo and Melissa both turned to Tony with blank expressions, clearly confused. For the first time since the conversation began, Eric cracked a smile. He let out a quiet snort and quickly looked away, raising a hand to cover his mouth as if daring himself not to laugh.
"You understood what he meant by that?" Melissa asked, still struggling to keep up with Tony's references.
Eric straightened up and pushed his glasses back into place, his expression returning to neutral. "No," he said flatly—lying without hesitation.
Clearing his throat, he continued, "Anyway, to answer your concern, it's not as bad as you're imagining. This is still a hero school. Everyone here is aspiring to be a hero, and being exposed as a bully would reflect poorly on them—and on their future career prospects."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Just because it would reflect badly on them?" he asked, clearly unimpressed.
"So it does still happen," Melissa muttered, scoffing.
"But only if they're found out," Momo added quietly.
Eric gave a wary smile, silently noting how perceptive all three of them were. He let out a low sigh and shrugged, his tone turning thoughtful. "It's simply human nature. When there are two distinct social classes, there will always be people who think of themselves as superior. It's a simple matter of psychology, really."
"You've studied psychology?" Tony asked with genuine curiosity. From the very beginning of the tour, he had gotten a good impression of Eric, and now he found himself wanting to know more about his cousin rather than just the school.
"It's something my mother kind of forced me into," Eric admitted with a small shrug. "She wanted me to develop my mind early on to better support my quirk, since it relies heavily on psychic energy."
Melissa tilted her head thoughtfully. "Do you feel like it actually helped?"
Eric hesitated for a brief moment before answering, his voice dropping slightly. "It helped me not turn out like the rest of our cousins," he muttered, clearly choosing not to elaborate further.
Tony caught the shift in tone but didn't press him on it.
As the tour continued, Tony mostly tuned out the principal's enthusiastic explanations as they moved through the interior of the school. The hallways, classrooms, cafeteria, and faculty offices all blended together in his mind. It wasn't that the place was unimpressive—it just looked like any other well-funded school building, only with reinforced walls and wider corridors to accommodate quirks.
Eventually, the group exited the main building and headed toward a massive structure standing beside it. The additional building looked almost like an oversized industrial warehouse, its exterior plain but imposing.
"This right here is the Gymnasium," Principal Issac announced grandly as they came to a stop in front of an enormous set of doors that looked as though they had been designed for giants rather than students.
When the doors were opened, the scene inside immediately came to life.
Students were spread across the massive interior, some engaged in full-on combat sparring matches, while others focused on testing the limits of their quirks. Energy beams streaked through the air, quills shot out like arrows, strands of silk snapped taut between platforms, and various liquids and elemental effects splashed and crackled across designated training zones. Teachers moved among the students, offering guidance, barking instructions, and occasionally stepping in to demonstrate proper technique.
The gymnasium itself was nearly twice the size of a football field. Training equipment of all kinds was scattered throughout the space—reinforced weights, obstacle courses, impact-resistant dummies, and specialized devices designed to withstand powerful quirks.
"These students are part of our summer course program," Principal Issac explained. "It's designed to help them further develop their skills and unlock their potential. We also guide them toward deciding what path they want to take—such as which Hero Agency they hope to work with—and how to realistically achieve those goals, among other related matters."
Their arrival hadn't gone unnoticed.
Several students paused mid-training, eyes widening as they immediately recognized Tony and Howard Stark—both of whom were, technically speaking, the public face of Stark Industries.
"Pay us no mind," the principal said pleasantly, waving them off. "We're simply showing our future applicants around the school. Please, continue with your training."
As they walked further in, attention gradually shifted.
Some of the male students became completely entranced upon spotting Momo and Melissa. Both of them were beyond gorgeous, elevated even further by their enhancements, and quickly became the center of attention. A few boys visibly started pushing themselves harder in their training, trying to show off in hopes of being noticed.
Meanwhile, several of the girls whispered among themselves, their gazes locked onto Tony, unable to tear their eyes away from his handsome features.
"Woah, is that Tony Stark?! He's way hotter in person."
"I know, right? Look at that jawline—you could cut diamonds with it."
"Do you think I should ask for his number?"
"If you want to be rejected instantly, sure. Go right ahead."
Tony dramatically clutched his chest and turned his head away. "So this is how it feels to be objectified."
Eric, Momo, and Melissa all rolled their eyes at his theatrics, while a few of the adults nearby let out amused chuckles as they continued walking.
"Now then," Principal Issac said, bringing the attention back to business, "so as not to take up any more of your time, shall we proceed with your official interview?"
"Finally," Tony groaned, only to yelp a second later when his mother smacked him upside the head for his rudeness.
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