At School

“Can anyone tell me the difference between an angle of elevation and depression?” The teacher asks the class, gesturing to the chalk board with a right angle diagram written on it.

No one made any sort of effort to raise their hand. No one could be bothered to humour the teacher. Not when we had like ten minutes, before the end of the day. The only thing the entire class paid attention to was the clock on the wall ticking down each second. That didn’t escape our teacher’s notice and immediately became displeased with them.

She jams her finger at the board. “It’s a simple question! You won’t be leaving at the end of class, until one of you answers.” She firmly states, already zoning in on one particular student.

“Bate!”

‘Shit.’

“What’s the difference between an angle of elevation and depression?” She asked him.

Of course she’d pick him. Why wouldn’t she pick him? Twenty other people she could’ve picked on, yet her heart desired him. He would feel flattered, if Bate had any ounce of care for this lesson. But that’s life isn't it? Even if we don’t like it, we have to put up with it.

Reluctantly Bate stood up from his seat, drawing his classmates attention. “One goes down and the other one goes up.” He answered, wanting nothing more to melt back into his seat.

“Which ones?” She questions further, seemingly taking pleasure in this.

‘Seriously?’

“The elevation goes up and the depression goes down.” Bate explains further, holding back his frustration from bleeding through his words.

“That’s correct! Now was that so hard to answer?” She says, which Bate takes as his cue to sit back down.

‘God I hate her…’

As she turned back to the board to continue with the lesson, fellow classmates of mine took the opportunity to laugh at him.

“About time.”

“It’s an easy question.”

“Must be because he’s quirkless.”

You know what, Bate pretty much just hates everyone here really. Deciding to simply ignore their comments, he just focused on scribbling little doodles into his school notebook and waited for the time to pass. Despite his expression appearing unbothered, underneath the surface Bate was quietly fuming within his seat.

‘Why do they have to make every little thing I do sound like I’m incompetent?’

Bate answered the teacher's question correctly, didn’t he? But noooo they have to make a big deal out of it and act as if something’s wrong with him all because he’s quirkless. It’s moments like these Bate wished his quirk would actually show up, but knowing his luck it seems like today’s going to be another crap one.

After what felt like an excruciating ten minutes the school bell finally rang.

“Remember everyone, I want questions two to ten done by tomorrow. Those who don’t do it will begin falling behind.” The teacher warns everyone.

Bate started gathering his belongings, packing them into his school bag, happy to finally get out of this place-

“Not you Bate, I need to have a few words with you.”

‘Great…’

Grudgingly dropping his bag back down, Bate took his seat again and waited. Forget it being a crap day, it seems like it’s going to be an utterly shit day. Because why not! And of course he couldn’t quietly sit in his seat peacefully despite keeping his head down as other classmates of his couldn’t resist the urge to make more comments about him.

“Someones in trouble!”

“What is this the fifth time this week?”

“Probably does it for attention.”

“What’d you expect? He's quirkless!”

‘It’s always the same thing…’

Everyone filed out of the room to enjoy their weekend, leaving just Bate and his teacher all alone. The latter gestured for Bate to come closer to the front of the classroom, waiting patiently until he dragged his feet right in front of her desk. Up close, Bate is able to take in the sight of one of his constant tormentors in this hell hole excuse of a school.

His teacher, Miss Sui, had long blue wavy hair that reached all the way down near her elbows and eyes like the ocean. She wore a light blue button up blouse with a straight black skirt that went down above her knee. Even though she’s a major annoyance in his life, the majority of students - including himself - found her to be the most attractive teacher here. And who wouldn’t when she’s rocking a pair of e-cup size breasts and a cheerleader-like ass.

“Are my lessons boring you? I don't appreciate this behaviour of yours.” Sui said, her blue eyes staring disapprovingly at him.

“But-“

Sui holds her hand up, silencing him. “I don’t want to hear your excuse. For now, I want to write your name on the board forty times. Once you're done, then you can head home.” She instructs Bate, already handing out a chalk pen for him.

Seeing no way out, Bate reluctantly grabs it and makes his way over to the chalkboard. Beginning the gruelling process of writing his name, quickly getting into a rhythm of it. Sui mainly overlooked some paperwork he and the rest of the class worked on today, presumably marking it or something. He can only imagine the comments she’ll write on his one, which will most likely result in other talk with his parents.

‘Wonderful…’

When Bate was halfway finished, Sui decided to take a look. “Huh?” She uttered, drawing Bate’s attention.

When he saw his teacher looking over his work so far, Bate couldn’t quite understand why she had this look on her face.

“Apologie Bate, I wasn’t aware that the board was owned by you.” She explained worriedly, now looking rather embarrassed. “If I had known earlier, the school and I wouldn’t have used it without your consent.”

Bate simply blinked at her.

‘...What?’

“Is this a joke?” He asks, honestly puzzled whether he’s being messed with.

“Joke?” She confusedly repeated, before adopting a serious look. “Mr. Bate, this isn’t a joke. How the school came into possession of your property for years without your consent baffles me. It’s a serious matter we need to address.”

Whether it’s what she said or the fact she genuinely believed herself, Bate continued staring at her completely puzzled. His eyes glances over the list of his name and the chalk pen between his fingers. He doubts Miss Sui is the type to psychological mess with him for a practical joke. So if it’s not that then… What's going on?

“Hold on,” Bate says, before pointing towards the chalkboard. “So I own this board, correct?”

Sui stares at him confused. “Yes, didn’t you hear me?”

“...Why do I own this board?” He questions further.

“Because your name is on it.” She states as if it’s the most obvious reason.

‘I wonder…’

Giving his name another glance, Bate grabs a permanent pen off Miss Sui’s desk and quickly writes his name on it. “Does that mean I also own this?” He asks her curiously.

Sui abruptly stands up from the desk. “My word!? Have… have I been using your desk all this time without your consent?” She panics, frowning at the desk in confusion.

On the other hand, Bate was completely overjoyed at his new found discovery, finally understanding what’s going on.

‘It’s finally happened!’

After all this time he’s finally found out what his quirk is! So how the hell hasn’t he discovered it years ago!? If it simply consisted of him writing his name down on something, how hasn’t he noticed the differences? Then again… he’s only really written his name on things he’s already owned.

He stared at the palm of his hand with the market sitting peacefully in the center of it, almost as if the very world was within it. This quirk reminded him of his mother’s sister who’s also - not to brag - the number one American hero! But the doctor’s took her quirk into account when testing for his, unless… it’s the marker that was missing.

‘A marker…’

That’s all that was needed to activate his quirk, allowing him to write his ownership over… anything potentially. But the real question is what’s he going to do with it?