Chapter Text
John Doe would like to say he is smart. That doesn't mean he is good in school (the only subject he doesn't struggle to even pass is English) but in terms of his knowledge of how society truly is and how it affects people, he would like to say he's smart or at least knowledgeable. Of course it helps that he has been at the bottom (a worthless cripple that was beaten, bloodied and bruised by the cruelty of kids who thought they were powerful) and the top (a monster who beat everyone no matter their ability or level. A monster who hospilised more of his peers than he has fingers and toes.).
His father helped his knowledge grow the most with his writing. His father, the mysterious author W. H. Doe of the banned book unOrdinary. His book has helped him realise that he wants to put an end to it. An end to the hierarchy in school's. An end to the authorities and their clear oppression of low tiers. An end to low tiers thinking they're powerless to everyone.
And what better way to do all this then by going to the strongest school in the country, a school that produced countless authority officials and scientists, a school that has produced the strongest students to date. Like his mom, Jane Doe, who graduated at a staggering 8.7. It is a school with one of the best newspapers to exist being sold around the town to help fund the school (not like it needs the help). His father, William Doe, had set it up and had once been the sole writer.
Now John Doe, their son, stands in front of this very school. Welston High School. A second year again at the age of sixteen. He liked to joke he would carry on his parents legacy to his dad, but they both knew that was a lie. John could write well and sometimes when his father looked at his writing, he would joke that he would steal it for his own books, but they both knew John had no confidence in his writing, not anymore anyways. He could technically beat his mom's record with the rate his ability develops but there is one slight issue. He can't activate it.
Anytime he tries his brain feels like it will implode as the movie reel of all John's mistakes flashes in front of his eyes. his heart feels like it has stopped and like it is beating too quickly at the same time. His stomach turns inside out and his throat burns as the bile rises to his mouth. His spit feels like it is too thick and tastes like iron. Like one lung collapses and the other explodes. And he can see them, the auras that were once colourful and beautiful, turning muddy and brutal in his hands.
So not only is he a student at Welston High School. He is practically a cripple. He is grateful for all the martial art lessons he got from his dad and various other instructors in his life, he will be able to defend himself at least. He is also grateful for his passive ability, which allows him to analyse someone's ability once they activate it and predict how they will use it. So he isn't completely defenseless but he is still a cripple, and if that isn't bad, he is also a cripple with an attitude, no impulse controll and a strong hatred for the very system that everyone swore to uphold.
But it doesn't matter who he is at the moment. What matters is how he's going to find his way to the principal's office. He probably should have printed the map of the school last night like his dad said he should. But alas he didn't so now here he is, wondering the ground floor for the office or a student to help him.
It is empty in the hallways, of course, since class has already started around two minutes ago. He's just hoping for someone to be little late but somehow everyone in this school is extremely punctual, why? John does not know.
He thinks he has found his guardian angel when he hears talking beyond the corner of hallway. The thought of his guardian angel quickly wears of as he sees that one of them has their ability activated and he hears a slap and a boy whisper shouting " I thought I told you to have it done by today, bitch!"
John doesn't like the guy already, the guy's ability seems to allow him to shift his stats between two forms. In one form, he has higher attack and speed but low defense and recovery. In the other form, he has higher defense and recovery but low strength and speed. If John were to amp the level of it up he would probably be able to use more forms. The guy's ability level is also quite high at 3.9, making him an elite tier.
He considers stopping the fight but he knows it would not do him any good. If he steps in he will probably be beaten up by the elite tier. He couldn't get in to fights so soon anyway, he doesn't want to get a reputation for himself.
He looks down the hallway where the elite tier is to check for the principal's office. John really needs better luck. At the very end of the hallway there ks a door with a sign saying "principal's office". He looks at the fight to check if he could get around it. Of course he can't the elite tier is holding the girl he was bullying up by the collar and looks like he is prepared to slap her, in the middle of the hallway. There is no way for John to pass.
John really doesn't want to be too late so he starts walking hoping the elite tier won't notice him. He does, because really what does John expect - for something to go his way for once? No, not at all.
The elite tier laughs obnoxiously and John can smell his cologne from ten steps away. The elite tier has blue long straight hair and green eyes that shines bright with aura. John likes to say all auras are beautiful but when he looks at the guy in front of him he wants to puke at his neon green aura. The guy drops the girl at his feet and smiles at John "I don't think I've seen you around here before, my name's Zeke I'm a third year and the King of Welston. What's your name?"
"It's John" he answers, the guy is definitely lying Welston is known for its strength a 3.9 could never be king here. He ignors Zeke's lie, instead he looks at the girl at his feet. Her hair is dark pink, a shade darker and it would be red, her hair is styled in pigtails tied with green beeds. Her eyes are the same dark pink as her hair. Her right cheak is swollen with the beginning of a bruise. He looks up at zeke again "I'm a second year"
"Shame we're not in the same year, Johnny boy, I could have showed you around." Zeke seems to notice how he was looking at the girl because he gestures to her as he speaks "you want to know what she did"
John hums, he doesn't really care. He is already clenching his fist to refrain from hitting Zeke. Zeke however takes this as a yes.
"This low tier bitch here didn't do my homework for me, she disobeyed me, her superior!"
John stares down at his own feet clenching his fists and eyes shut. He can hear the mocking voices of student from New Bostin middle and high school telling him he will always be weak. He can hear the voice of Keon telling him he will always be a failure no matter how hard he tries. He mutters something so unintelligible that he doesn't even understand.
"What'd you say Johnny boy?"
"Asshole" he says, raising his head and opening his eyes to look at Zeke.
"I know isn't she" Zeke agrees looking at John, he looks concerned when he sees John's expression. John doesn't even hesitate. He raises his fist and punches Zeke in the nose as hard he can. The asshole doesn't even get a chance to react even with his ability active. He is already lying on the floor, unconscious and unable to do any more harm before a second passes. His nose is bloodied and probably broken. John doesn't realise it but a smile had formed on his face when he had looked up at Zeke. His smile stays as he glares down at Zeke.
He said he would get involved and now look at him he has made enemies with an elite tier. At least he can go to the principal's office now.
"What the heck just happened‽" He hears a feminine voice say and looks at the girl who is apparently not as unconscious as John thought she is, she just knows how to play dead. She is now standing and looking incredulously at John and Zeke "How did you just‽ He's an elite tier!"
John shrugs still smiling "he was an asshole so he got what he deserved. As for how, I punched him, nothing too complicated" he holds out his hand for her to shake "I'm John Doe, I'm a second year"
"My name's Evie, I'm also a second year" she says shaking his hand still looking slightly stunned. However her expression quickly changes to something of resolution as she grips John's hand tighter, she has a very, very strong grip. "Please teach me how to fight"
John smiles, he loves fighting maybe they could start sparring together when she gets good enough. He nods and her expression of resolution changes, to one of the brightest smiles John has ever seen (Adrion's smile would always be bright in John's mind even if he knows Adrion wouldn't smile anymore around him, he hadn't in a long time), John jokes in his head that her ability is light related if her smile is that bright. "I'll teach you how to fight"
He looks down at the principal's office door. He really needs to go
"Hey Evie, I'll see you at lunch and we can talk about when and where. For now can you take yourself and Zeke to the infirmary, I need to go to the principal's office."
"I will, see you at lunch John!" She says picking Zeke up and throwing him over her shoulder with ease turning around and walkind away. He guesses he doesn't have to do too much strength training with her then. But he shouldn't think of that right now.
Now he has to see the principal.