Teasing Curses [private]

Today was quite eventful so far, especially for the villain hidden in plain sight. Not only had he met a rather... interesting girl, he also befriended that weird pervert. What was going on with him to allow something like that?! Sometimes, Krito didn't even understand himself. But what was done was done... And how, he had a different problem coming up. Surviving the next class without losing it and cursing the entire area. Judging from his experiences with other students so far, that'd be his biggest challenge yet - and that said something, considering he was once an assassin during the third world war.

With a sigh, Krito came out of the changing room as the last guy, as always. Nobody tried to talk to him, or even paid much attention to him - and he liked it that way. He was just that gloomy nerd in the background - nothing special about him. Not especially intelligent or dumb - not creepy or friendly. Just gloomy and somewhat depressing to look at, so nobody gave it much thought. Well, at least until Miki had talked to him today... Honestly, he had liked that. Not that he'd ever admit it to anyone, but being seen as someone worthwhile was one of the long standing goals of Krito Asmeudos.

Taking a look around in the gym hall, Krito noticed multiple girls coming out of their changing room as well. As always, he kept himself in the back of everyone, sometimes glancing around to see if Miki was around somewhere. To be honest, with her actions beforehand, he wouldn't have been surprised if she had tried to sneak into the male locker room just to give him another shock for life, but that didn't happen, thankfully. Otherwise he'd have a lot more red in his face. And so, Krito waited - for both the teacher and his only 'friend' he had. What an odd feeling.

Throngs of students quickly begin to fill the gymnasium hall after donning the sportswear most appropriate for class.  Each individual quickly moved past one another, paying little attention to who they bumped into, awaiting the arrival of their teacher. It was no secret that most of the students favored this teacher. She was so open minded and full of energy that they never had to worry about being scolded, unless they did something purposely to earn her ire. Provided with the benefit of fitness and merriment, to these students housed within class today, this gymnasium was a beloved paradise.

Among the multitude of her fellow classmates, Miki found it highly difficult to pinpoint with certainty where Krito was located.  Multiple female students with uncontrolled fervor, forced their way through, pushing Miki back into the hectic throng of students. Under any normal circumstance, Miki was always indifferent to the pandemonium of a wild crowd, she was no stranger to the unpredictable, ever-changing enviroment; she even welcomed such chaos when the mood suited her. Even so, there was one reason why their uncontrolled behavior was more of a detriment than a welcomed pleasantry. How was she to ever find her friend when everyone could hardly keep still?

Even among this disorder,  Miki would not allow herself to be deterred. She would find her new friend, no matter what! When the females and males converged towards the same point, Miki was able to successfully locate her newly-acquired companion, detecting his whereabouts at the rearmost part of the crowd. Such a location, was, of course, hardly unexpected - from the moment began to analyze and pinprick the distinct traits in his personality, he wholeheartedly established his disdain at being at the forefront of attention. However, with Miki existing as his friend, would he even stand a chance of maintaining that iron will?


Of course not~! Mused Miki as she hurried towards him with renewed vigor.

“There you are!” Crying out with immense joy as she ran towards him, giddy with success, Miki enveloped Krito within her arms, pushing his face between her chest, threatening to suffocate him within her powerful embrace.

“Phew – for a second there, I nearly thought you were gonna’ chicken out on me. I wouldn't want you missing out on watching me work my stuff~” To allow him a view of her "assets", Miki released Krito from her embrace, moving a few meters apart, swaying her hips from side to side, shamelessly flaunting her body to evoke a reaction from him. From the beginning, she realized that the most wonderful thing about their bond would be seeing him with a flustered face, full of that beautiful crimson color of red that signified man's hormones rising to their extremity.

Sporting a pair of running shorts with colors of the American flag barely covering her thighs, complete with a black sports bra that provided an ample view of her midriff. No doubt, this too, was used as a ploy to incite even more emotion in her companion, who was blissfully unaware of what it truly meant to be both male and a friend of Miki Hoshi. Unfortunate as it was, there was no time for conversation other than a casual greeting, so without further delay, Miki blew a kiss in his direction, before marching with merriment towards the gym, hoping her Jinx of a partner would keep pace.  

Par the course for Hephaestus Academy, the gymnasium was outfitted with state-of-the-art technology, high class furnishings that would put even the most opulent millionaire to shame.  A large room filled with many sections to choose from, the gym provided the students with water fountains located at the far walls, where group and partner activities were held.  

The sections themselves were based on a framework that dealt with surveys, particularly ones to see what type of environment the students would enjoy in this module.  There were two basketball courts in the main section, one at the left side, one at the right.  In another, there was a custom-made soccer field, built outside for whenever the students needed fresh air.

In a section not too far from the soccer field, there was a glimmering pool filled with water just as blue as shimmering waterfalls found in the mountains.  As far as the eye could see, this room was filled with facilities that any commonplace student in your typical run-of-the-mill academy would die to possess.  Even though it was somewhat obvious to gleam, this was not the true gymnasium, or rather, it was more appropriate to consider this an alternative to students yet unaware of their potent skills, desiring to bask in athletic activity rather than physical and spiritual combat training, where death, if left unauthorized, could strike at any moment. There were no records of student casualities resulting in death but it was always a possibility that would be outright foolish to rule out, concerning the weak students who, unaware of the consequences, let their pride overturn their logic and accept challenges with no ounce of hesitation.

Hephaestus' arena was the ideal place for warriors seeking to marshal their talents onto the plateau of true warriors; that was a truth needing no utterance. . The stress of any school was always around the corner. This class was an escape from that stress, and while the teacher was not against the idea of students having mock battles in her class provided that they didn't damage any of the equipment, she advised against it on a frequent number of occasions, wanting as little casualty as possible.  As Miki awaited the entrance of her teacher, a joyful smile danced upon her lips.


Today was going to be one for the record books.

There were probably a few ways to make this situation even more embarassing, but Krito sure as hell didn't know them as he turned red like a tomato once again. Miki had quite a grip, that much was for sure - and she had a hand for outfits that made any male in a ten mile radius take a second look. And more than a few people also looked at Krito now, most of them with either envy or sheer disbelief because a gloomy nerd like him got this much attention from someone as attractive as Miki. Krito took great care NOT too look any other guy in the eyes here, or he'd probably be assaulted by all of them at once. Instead, he played it as cool as he possibly could, pushing up his glasses with the left hand again - they sparkled in the light as always.
"Please, Miki. I do not 'chicken out' from anything." He said, with as much confidence as he could, and followed her right into the main hall of the gym. Which wasn't all that easy, considering that she was quite fast and he had to almost jog to keep up with her. What was with this girl and having so much energy? Then again, she controled kinetic force... No wonder someone like that was full of energy at all times. Krito himself looked ESPECIALLY plain, standing right next to Miki - his clothing were simple and black, at least at first glance. The sports shirt he was wearing was actually in a very dark shade of purple. Still, besides Miki, an outfit like that looked like someone had placed a black dot right next to this beauty. Not that Krito actually minded looking plain - he had enough time to look amazing as a super-villain with his costume.

Sadly, it also seemed as if Miki wasn't one to stand completely in the back as the rest of the class arrived - being seen by so many people gave Krito some very unpleasant chills, and he'd take her constant teasing over those dagger-like views being thrown at him from behind any day. Thankfully, no actual daggers had been thrown yet. He wasn't too sure about that staying this way, though.
"Really now, you know how to make an entrance. I think at least twenty hormone driven teenagers want to kill me now. And I wouldn't be surprised if one third of them wasn't male. Do you have to pull stunts like this?" Slightly annoyed, Krito sighed and waited for the teacher to arrive. Hopefully it wouldn't be a group activity that forced physical contact, or he'd slam into walls quite a few times. "I personally don't have much of a problem with it. But I have a problem with people getting the wrong idea." At least he hated it while not in costume and while not going by the name Jinx. He could quite easily imagine a lot of these tough guys freaking out of he had broken in from a wall right about now, dressed at Jinx, and caused the entire room to start acting as their personal hell. There were more than enough loose objects around in sports activities to become health hazards even without jinxes.
Pushing his glasses up once more, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and waited.

Krito's predictions about earning the ire of his male peers proved correct, as a group of young men stared upon Miki's hourglass shape, unable to hide their expressions of lust and awe.  Miki noticed them through presence alone; they weren't too far away from where Miki and Krito were standing, so it would've been outright impossible not to notice those hungry expressions. Upon realizing this, a coquettish grin formed upon Miki's lips as she edged ever closer towards Krito, pushing her chest against his arm, in yet another attempt to break his resolve. "Get the wrong idea about what....? The fact that you and I are a couple? Our love should be presented before the entire world, so that every man shall know that my heart belongs only to Krito Asmodeus! “When those words were finished, the glowering expressions of the male crowd quickly focused in on Krito. Each expression was the equivalent of a dagger, saying, "You're dead, boy.” The girls couldn't help but chuckle as they were use to Miki's antics.  Even though the male populace within the room had the intent to pulverize Krito, it was a great stroke of fate that, before any of the students could move a single step, the teacher had arrived.   “Sorry I’m slightly off schedule class!  The plane that brought me here needed routine maintenance, so I unfortunately had to find another means of transportation to arrive here. In any case, are you all ready to begin?”

The students yelled with exultant roars, nearly destroying her eardrums in the process.  She chuckled pleasantly before nodding in reply, directing her attention towards two particular students.  

“That’s strange… he usually always stands at the back of these crowds.  I wonder what occurred to bring about this change of mind? Ah… and he’s standing beside a girl?  A strange day indeed, “she mused before bringing her hands together.  “Students!  Since I arrived late today, I will allow you to decide on what type of activity we’ll be engaging in today.  Group, partners, teams… take your pick!  “Miki smiled gingerly as she waited to see what the results would be.  

No matter what the decision was, in the grand scheme of things, it could only work to her advantage.  Krito, however, would not be so fortunate if indeed, everyone decided upon a group assignment.

Each of the males grinned with sinister glee as they devised a plan that would sabotage Krito away from the lovely Miki.  A nerd like him had no right to be within the presence of such a godlike beauty! Such were the thoughts that dominated their mind, and so… the decision was about to be made.

Before, Krito had simply been embarassed as all hell because of her. But right now, embarassment made way for pure terror. His face was white as a bedsheet instead of red right now, as he looked at Miki with a facial expression that could only mean one thing...
"Are you freaking serious? Do you WANT me to get killed?!" Lowering his voice to a whisper, the males in the back grumbled with even more anger, since they were apparently interpreting it as more flirting. Since when was he seen as the go-to ladykiller nerd?! Well, probably ever since he decided that someone like Miki would be a good friend to have. Sometimes, he just wanted to go back in time and kick his former self in the balls, or in the head. Or both, really. There was a very good reason for him to lower his voice, too - knowing what damage Miki had done so far, she'd probably turn that one around at him as well. This woman was something else...

In his misfortune, which rivaled a certain young man with a 'red right hand' right about now, Krito didn't even fully register what the teacher was saying. What? Group activity? Anything but that, or his 'nerd' persona would implode for good. Being known as a spectacled badass wasn't exactly helpful if you wanted to keep your life as a super-villain hidden from public view. Then again, hanging out with Miki on it's own seemingly destroyed any anonymity he ever had... Some things just LOVED to go wrong. Of course, when it came to the voting, Krito's vote could be summed up as 'anything but a group activity'...

But apparently the testosterone-crowd behind them, together with others who wanted to see the spectacle of Krito being strung up like a deserter during wartime, seemed stronger in their votes. Mentally, Krito was making notes of all of their names and swore to ruin their days for the rest of eternity, with his facial expression resembling someone who was about to be forced to use the eifel tower as a sex-aid without lube. This was probably really, really funny for Miki right about now, seeing as how the options for group activities narrowed down to Rugby, soccer, and a bunch of other physical activities where Krito would be forced to actively interact with these horny teenagers. Throwing a single glance backwards, he couldn't help it - he put on a dismissive, better-than-you smirk towards all of them, his glasses shining in the light. It had come down to this, so why not enjoy kicking the asses of them? Maybe that'd actually impress Miki... just so that she'd stop spreading rumors with every comment, of course. Why else would Krito be interested in what she thought? She was a tool to keep up a 'student' appearance. Maybe being a popular guy - or at least the guy going out with a popular girl - would keep more suspicions away from him than trying to blend in... Decisions, decisions.

"Well whatever it'll be, I'm holding you responsible for what is inevetibly going to happen, Miki." Pulling his glasses off of his face, he folded them together nicely and handed them over to the girl - she had gotten him into this mess, the least she could do was take care of these glasses. "Just make sure they aren't broken, I somewhat doubt I'll need them." After all, he didn't need glasses in the first place. Not that anyone knew that. With a flick of his wrists, he got out a small bandana from his pocket, and bound back his hair slightly with it's help, so that it didn't curtain over most of his face any longer. Suddenly he didn't look all that meek and geeky anymore.

"So can we get this started, or do you people need another ten hours to make a simple decision?" It was about time to let out a tiny bit of the Jinx from within him, who was aching to give some idiots a few painful memories. Painful through physical pain or because they were about to lose to a nerd, that didn't matter.

Miki, as well as her female peers, were dumbfounded by the unexpected confidence now present within Krito's demeanor.  Even the gym teacher looked on with a befuddled expression, mouth agape, as she, too, could barely register that a student of hers who normally, had always been so secretive and antisocial, now felt compelled to prove himself before his fellow classmates.  The males, were no doubt, angered, their expressions illustrating the embarrassment they now felt at listening to his bravado. "That damned piece of shit thinks he can talk to us like that!?" One of the more burlier male students growled with so much intensity, that almost every student within the classroom would've had to be physically deaf not to hear it.  In that instant, forced his way through the crowd of males and stomped towards Krito, glaring down at him with bulging eyes. "So, a little nerd like you thinks he can play sports, eh? Don't kid yourself, ya' fuckin' dwarf! There ain't a single way someone so physically and spiritually useless as you could beat any of us, am I right guys!?" Among the group of males, his friends, or rather goons, cheered in agreement. However, before things could escalate, the gym teacher quickly moved between them, as any fight outside of an organized match would jeopardize her job, and she had strict rules against bullying of any nature.

"Easy there, Gorou. You know very well that I do not condone physical violence of any sort in my class, especially when it can be prevented. Besides, I'm quite amused by this bravado from Krito. As unexpected as it is, I would love to see him participating in our activities more.  Even the girls are smitten with him right now."

The gym teacher had inadvertently exacerbated Gorou's anger. Indeed, if one were to look closely at the female students at this very moment, the words of the teacher held much merit. Every girl among the crowd of females were now whispering how impressed they were by Krito, how he looked so very handsome now that he wasn't masquerading around as a nerd. Miki, too, now found herself astonished by this turn of events, as she stared on, holding Krito's glasses. She could barely hear the whispers as she now gazed upon Krito, who indeed, now looked much more handsome without the glasses and hair covering his face. Manliness was the quickest way to popularity for these ladies, or so it seemed. And that was only intensifying the anger of Gorou and his band of bafoons. Of course, those who were bullied or treated poorly by Gorou and his gang of goons, cheered Krito on, as though they had found their Messiah.  At this point, Gorou and his group of men could no longer brook any further disrespect and looked towards the gym teacher, issuing a challenge.

"Hahahahaha! Well then, teach! If you want Krito to prove he has some guts, allow me and my group of men to challenge him to a little ol' game of..... superhuman dodgeball! "  

The moment he uttered these words, everyone, excluding the teacher, fell silent. Normally, if this were a game of dodgeball, there would be little worry, since despite these men possessing a clear size advantage over Krito, anyone with exceptional speed could easily outmaneuver them.  However, as the name implied, superhuman dodge ball is a game wherein the individuals present would engage in dodgeball, using their own superhuman skills, be they physical or spiritual.  Many of the rules found within a normal dodgeball game were still present here, the only addition being that those with superhuman talent can make use of their special ability.  Although Miki humored herself by teasing Krito, she hadn't expected things would escalate so quickly. She had no qualms with taking responsibility for whatever happened... but the thought of Krito being injured unsettled her. Fortunately, the teacher could tell when someone was being mistreated, the implications were made painstakingly clear by their behavior, to say nothing of the diabolical expressions plastered among their somewhat grotesque faces.

"Absolutely not, Gorou! You know my rules! Unless the numbers are fair, I don't allow anyone to play this game unless they're having fun. To me, this just seems like you're trying to bully him around, which is something I will not allow. " Adamant in her rules, the female gym teacher glared at gorou, highly disenchanted by his behavior, though she had long since grown use to it. Gorou grinned with cruel glee. He expected that since now that Krito was under so much pressure, he would simply whimper and return to the group like the little punk he was. However, he was in for a startling  revelation.

The idea that this might've not been the best idea he ever had struck Krito when he saw the guy who was obviously very inclined to beat the shit out of the hidden super-villain right about now. Gorou was a known musclehead and bully - of course, all teachers said that bullying didn't really occur at this academy, but it happened everywhere. That was just human nature - some people were scumbags. Nothing could change that.
But then again... WHAT should he be afraid of? Unlike this hunk of meat, Krito had combat training and experience. Not to mention that his healing powers could knit a broken bone back together within SECONDS if he just concentrated - and even when he didn't, a few minutes were all it took. Hell, Gorou could douse Krito in gasoline and light it on fire and it still wouldn't kill him! He was functionally immortal compared to these students. Sure, getting injured hurt like all hell...

Normally, Krito would've backed off right about now. Maybe made some jokes, belittled Gorou and his friends, but declined the challenge in some suave way. After all, intelligence was worth far more than brute strength to him. But these people... and especially Gorou... were looking down on him. Nobody, NOBODY would EVER get away with looking down on him! If not for the teacher standing between them, Krito would've jumped this big hunk of meat to make him scream he's sorry. Maybe it was a bit vain to care about the opinion of some student on this academy, but the super-villain Jinx was known for being quite petty. The fact that he was also impressing every female in the radius - Miki included - didn't even really register right now. Why should he care? None of these girls mattered to him - well, maybe Miki mattered, a little. She was the one who got him into this mess, but he wasn't too angry with her - she was playful and intelligent, these brutes were idiotic and self-loving.

"Manly? Please, teacher. I've always looked like this, you know. I just prefer not being noticed. But alas... Nobody can stay hidden forever, or something like that. It is nothing special." Krito's eyes seemed to sparkle even without the glasses, and his smirk had something... dangerous about it. It just didn't fit at all with the image people usually had of Krito - seems like he'd have to play the 'hidden badass' from now on to keep his identity a secret. Good enough, maybe that'd fit him more than the silent nerd type.
The silence of Gorou's challenge was about to disappear, when Krito reignited it by speaking himself. His tone was even more condescending and outright ridiculing now than it had been back in the classroom, when Miki listened to him ranting about the stupidity of the general student body.

"Wait a moment, teacher. I know, the challenge isn't exactly fair... there won't be too much fun to be had... But really, it was his idea. Nobody can blame me if I don't allow him and his goons to have fun, right? I just fear it might be a little unfair... For them."

The silence now could be cut apart with a knife. What was Krito thinking?! Simple. Someone who was used to dodging tank shells and landmines right after triggering could probably return a few superpowered dodgeballs - and if anything hit it, he'd just have to hold onto them and return fire. It virtually was that easy - no matter the things fired at him, they wouldn't deal any permanent damage.
"So, anyone else want into the fun of beating Gorou into the ground? Or should I do it alone?"
Now was time to entice the crowd, maybe get one or two people dumb enough to join so Krito could use them as aviable targets for the idiots.