Higari was grieving.
For years, Arthur had been the perfect son. Obedient when it mattered, hardworking in everything except his education, and free of bad habits.
Rebellion was a foreign word to the boy.
Until now.
Higari stared at his son, trying to figure out where he had gone wrong.
Arthur, in his defense, was currently doing nothing wrong. Happily shoveling the waffles his father had made for him, the boy was completely oblivious to the thoughts being directed at him.
"Hey Arthur." Higari finally said, his voice stern. "I have a question."
Arthur looked up from his food. "What is it, father?"
The man's lips trembled.
"Why… just why..."
Arthur leaned forward.
"WHY THE HELL HAVEN'T YOU UNSHEATHED YOUR SWORD!"
"IS IT EMBARRASSING? ARE YOU ASHAMED YOUR OLD MAN MADE YOU A SWORD? CAN'T BEAR SHOW IT OFF IN PUBLIC?"
"I'LL REFORGE IT HOWEVER YOU WANT BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST UNSHEATHE IT ONCE!"
Higari's face was turning red from all the screaming he was doing, yet Arthur remained unfazed.
"I haven't proven myself worthy of his name, much less the honor of unsheathing it."
…
Ground Beta
Arthur walked towards his changing room trying to fully process what had occurred within the past five minutes.
The second day at UA had not been nearly as exciting as the day before it. Of course, any school would be hard-pressed to make every day as exciting as one where students risked expulsion (Arthur refused to believe Aizawa was bluffing) and got constantly glared at by a sleep deprived mummyman.
Normal was one way to describe the day. Of course, normal in UA's standards was still strange.
The teachers were… eccentric.
A man who can make clones of himself, an R-18 heroine, a man made of cement, and of course, Present Mic. Not that it mattered to Arthur, he treated these classes just as he treated every other indoor class.
He slept through them with his eyes wide open.
It was an advanced technique, a secret knight art – one that had served Arthur well for years and would likely do so for many to come.
The moment the final lesson ended, Arthur awoke.
Slowly regaining his bearings, he looked up right in time to witness the arrival of a storm.
"I AM HERE!"
All Might rushed through the door, rippling muscles and massive grin in tow.
Could it be… I've gone insane?
Arthur stared at him and rubbed his eyes.
Nope. All Might was still there.
"OH MY GOD ALL MIGHT!" Kirishima screamed
"OH GOD HE'S SO COOL!"
"Is that his silver age costume? Ribbit."
Arthur stared ahead blankly. It seemed he wasn't hallucinating. The Number 1 Hero was in the flesh right in front of his eyes in all his muscly glory.
Arthur could sense something from the man. A hint of danger beneath his warm exterior. This was a god amongst men. Someone who could change the weather with a punch. Someone who could potentially wipe out the country if he so desired.
What a monster.
The excitement that had come with the man's arrival had quickly been replaced by different emotion – anticipation. Anticipation for what his class was to bring.
Hero Training.
Before the first day, Arthur had been requested to submit a costume design for this class. Objectively, the boy truly had done his best. Alas, artistic talent was not something he was granted.
Higari called what he had "autistic talent".
The paper Arthur designed his costume was unfortunately torn to bits by Higari soon after the man caught sight of it. Arthur assumed the blacksmith had a better idea for what suited him and so he left it in his hands.
The one who forged his sword was obviously capable of crafting his armor.
Once in the changing room, the boy swiftly opened the package containing his costume and put it on.
Awesome.
An apt description as any.
Arthur's armor starkly contrasted with his sword, which was white and gold. The armor was grey and minimalist, covering only vulnerable spots, with his joints left completely free. Behind his armor was a black cape that appeared to have gone through a shredder.
The armor was neither heavy nor unwieldy. It was a beautiful mix of elegance and practicality. [IMG]
Standing in front of a mirror, Arthur's expression was nothing short of dreamy.
With his yet to be named sword at his hip and his armor donned, his heart had begun to beat erratically.
Stepping outside, the boy paid little mind to the costumes of the other children – save for Lida's. His costume was quite knightly as well.
"SHALL WE BEGIN, MY WARDS?" All Might finally said, his voice loud enough to be heard from afar. "IT IS TIME FOR BATTLE TRAINING!"
Immediately, Lida's hand shot up. "Sir! This is the same area we had our entrance exam in! Am I to assume we will be doing a similar exercise?"
All Might grinned broadly. "Nope! We're moving on to stage two! Indoor Battle Training!"
"Villains are often seen outdoors – HOWEVER! Statistics show most heinous acts of villainism occur INDOORS!"
"Between confinement, house arrest, black market deals, in this hero society of ours –"
The man began coughing heavily then continued as if nothing happened.
Arthur tilted his head. Does All Might have allergies?
"– the cleverest villains lurk indoors!"
"All of you will be split into hero and villain teams and face off in two against two indoor battles!"
Hands shot up.
"Sir!" A girl with a spikey ponytail began to ask. "What are the win conditions?"
"Can I just blast everyone here?" Bakugo's question followed soon after.
"Are you going to expel us as well?" A girl wearing a costume reminiscent of an astronaut questioned.
"How are we to split ourselves into teams?
All Might's smile stiffened.
"One at a time please! My quirk isn't super hearing!"
The man then began explaining the nuances of the activity. It was simple enough for even Arthur to grasp it.
Essentially the villains will have a bomb they must hide and protect, and heroes must secure that bomb.
A simple task for the Knight King.
Arthur would have liked to claim he was calm. Calmness was a state he attributed to confidence. And yet, he was the complete opposite at the moment.
His heartbeat was strange.
THUMP
THUMP
He placed a hand on chest. What's going on?
He took a deep breath.
Calm yourself, Arthur.
Soon lots were drawn to be split into teams.
First Battle
Hero Team: Arthur Boyle and Minoru Mineta
Villain Team: Eijiro Kirishima and Mashirao Ojiro
Kirishima banged his fists together, baring his sharp teeth. "Hell yeah."
Arthur ran a hand through his hair. "Excellent."
…
Arthur and Mineta made for a striking pair. Striking in how completely different they were.
Tall and short. Calm and energetic. Confident and worried. Pure and perverted. The list goes on.
Usually, these personalities wouldn't mesh.
Mineta had unintentionally made sure that wouldn't happen with his first few sentences.
"Hey Arthur. Since you're a top scorer, I'm going to be relying on you to protect me. Capiche?"
Arthur blinked.
Protect?
The word had an absurd amount of impact on the boy.
He puffed his chest and beat it with a fist. "Fear not commoner. I, Arthur Boyle the Knight King, will ensure no harm befalls you."
The exercise started exactly as both boys preferred it.
Minoru Mineta got to wander across the lower floors using 'scouting' as an excuse while Arthur sprinted across the building in search for the villains.
Tin
Pewter
Arthur's senses expanded to an absurd degree.
He could feel everything.
His sight sharpened, and his touch became almost annoying. His hearing was almost painfully accurate, and even his taste had been enhanced. He could hear the footsteps on the floors above him.
THUMP
THUMP
THUMP
Arthur ignored his heartbeat. It had grown stronger since he began burning pewter but it wasn't a concern for now. He would handle it later.
After a few minutes, Arthur finally arrived at a room with the bomb in it.
The bomb was guarded by two boys – one with spiky red hair and even spikier teeth and one plain blonde boy with a tail.
Kirishima grinned. "Hey Arthur!"
Arthur smiled back. "I see you wish for a straightforward duel."
The redhead cracked his knuckles. "Can't be doing a lot of crafty nonsense with our quirks so all-out battle was our only strategy. Just how I like it."
Arthur nodded. Then without warning, he rushed forward, his fist aimed for Kirishima's face.
Harden
An absurdly tough arm blocked the punch, letting Kirishima counter the punch with a left hook.
Arthur dodged, only to be met with an incoming tail.
Arthur's eyes widened.
A coin dropped to the floor.
Steel Push
He shot upwards, dodging attacks from both opponents.
Iron Pull
Pulling the coin back up, he tossed it up.
Steel Push
The coin slammed onto the roof of the room. The moment the coin made contact with the roof, Arthur accelerated downwards – his leg barely missed Ojiro's head.
The three each took a step back, processing the fights.
Arthur smirked. "Not bad."
Ojiro's tail swished. "You're not too shabby yourself, Arthur. Have you had any training?"
Arthur shook his head. "Father says structured combat would hold me down."
Ojiro raised his eyebrows. "I see."
"LESS TALKING MORE FIGHTING!"
Kirishima initiated contact once again, his fist targeting Arthur's abdomen.
Arthur slammed the arm down with an elbow, his free hand aimed at the side of Kirishima's head.
The hit connected.
Arthur waited for the boy to fall sideways or stumble.
No reaction, save for the slight turning of Kirishima's head.
How?
Kirishima recovered as if nothing had happened and drove a fist into Arthur's stomach.
Arthur felt it through his armor, causing him to double over.
Retreating to the entrance of the room, Arthur held his stomach.
I see. My fists alone can't pierce his skin.
Ojiro in the meantime had not strayed far from the bomb, ensuring Arthur always remained further away from it than him.
A battle of attrition wasn't in Arthur's favor.
THUMP
What was he supposed to do?
THUMP
Maybe flare? Even if it took down Kirishima, it might not be enough for Ojiro.
THUMP
No. Flare shouldn't be anything but a last resort. Arthur must never treat it as a crutch.
THUMP THUMP THUMP
Draw me.
Arthur heard a voice.
It wasn't from anyone in the room.
It existed only in Arthur's own head. His imagination.
Say my name.
Claim me as yours.
I am –
A hand gripped the hilt of Arthur's sword.
Arthur's eyes had become unnaturally wide and foggy.
Kirishima sensed a shift in the air. He didn't understand what it meant, and yet his smile was not nearly as bright as before.
"Excalibur." Arthur whispered.
A beautiful sword made itself known to the world.
Its blade as simple as it was elegant. Flawless. Pristine.
It was also blunted.
Arthur bared his teeth, grinning like a wild animal.
Kirishima let out a disbelieving laugh.
"So, the Knight King has a sword, huh? Go figure."
THUMP
THUMP
THUMP
Arthur's eyes were still foggy. No clear thoughts surfaced on his mind.
He was in the zone.