Chapter Text
...
Oh wait, wait
I’m finally getting something from you
Somebody say nobody cares
In my dark heart, there is sunshine
…
There was an old legend passed down among the fishermen of Geum Yoil about the East Mountains. They say that when dawn rises over the highest point you can see the Valkyrie on their white horses, charging like a crystal current in a final toboggan towards earth.
She had studied the mountains many times over the years but had yet to see any horses, just snow. Maybe those fishermen needed to get out of town more.
“Everyone should have legends, I think. It allows us to dream.”
She turned to the girl putting her gear away and chuckled. “You’re too pure for this world, Mina-yah.”
“Classical Mythology is nice.” The girl looked at her with bright mint green eyes.
Sana smiled and shook her head, shoving her things into her duffel. “Ye Olde Faithful. Thanks for training with me today.”
Her water bottle leaked and she tossed it out with a yelp. Mina picked it up, secured the cap, and placed it neatly into the bag.
“What would you do without me?” A gummy smile. “And that’s Classical Lit, unnie.”
“Whatever.”
Mina laughed. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”
“Okay, Shakespeare.”
“Arigato, honey.”
…
“Has anyone seen my sunglasses?” one Dahyun said, half inside a deep drawer.
Chaeyoung walked out of the bathroom, a towel levitating around her. “Are you going into town?”
The four Dahyuns in the room all turned at the same time. “No.”
Chaeyoung waved her hand and a hairbrush flew over. “Then why do you need them?”
Another Dahyun sighed. “Dueling practice is today. Momo sunbae is gonna be there.”
“There’s the real Dahyunnie,” the shorter girl told Tzuyu, who was fixing her uniform tie in the mirror and still getting used to acquiring a horde of new roommates at any given time.
“Sunglasses won’t protect you if Momo sunbae punches you again,” Chaeyoung continued.
“Aha!” Dahyun lifted a pair of round black sunglasses into the air and put them on. She smiled at them, looking absolutely ridiculous. “It’s not for that. I’m planning on watching Momo sunbae practice today.”
The School Meal Club stared at her with blank expressions.
“But staring at the sun for too long can hurt my eyes,” Dahyun shrugged, walking out of the room.
…
They sat in the gardens for Introduction to Horticulture, Tzuyu’s first class of the summer semester, as Professor Lee Sunmi lectured them on plant production.
“Things will be stirring below in the dark,” the professor said, patting the earth around a freshly planted flower. “The sun’s warming them.”
Tzuyu thought the curriculum would revolve around lessons on superpowers and the big questions, like to cape or not to cape - but here she was patting her own flower bed. It felt human, almost.
“Now these won’t grow up in a night,” said Professor Sunmi. “You’ll have to wait for them.”
“She’s so great,” said the freshman from Red Squad, her violet eyes reminding Tzuyu of another set with a similar hue.
“Is Professor Sunmi your bias, Yeri?” Dahyun asked.
The girl laughed nodding then whispered, “But don’t tell Professor Taeyeon that.”
“Alright, class.” Professor Sunmi stood up. “We can leave these pretty here for now. Don’t forget your assignments.”
Tzuyu looked down at the sad stem below her, bent and flimsy. Calling it “pretty” was very optimistic.
…
They met up with Chaeyoung as she exited her art class, paint splotches all over her jacket.
“Ah, Chaeng-casso!” Dahyun spread against the lockers and wiggled her eyebrows. “Paint me like one of your french girls.”
Chaeyoung showed them her canvas. “Yeah, if you want to look like a strawberry.”
“Well. They’re sweet right?”
Chaeyoung sighed and walked next to Tzuyu. “You ready for your first dueling practice?”
“Mmm, not really.”
Chaeyoung glanced up at her. “What? Why? Sana sunbae even invited you!”
She pursed her lips. “I still have to pass Blue Squad trial… along with getting used to everything.”
“You don’t have to do any of this if you don’t want to, Tzuyu-yah,” Dahyun offered.
“I know.” She looked at the two of them. “But you’re my only friends here. I don’t want to leave.”
Chaeyoung grinned. “Chewy, I didn’t know you were such a softy.”
Dahyun smiled. “You, me, and Chaeng are the School Meal Club now, Tzuyu-yah. Even if you moved to another country, we’d still be family. It wouldn’t be complete without you.”
Chaeyoung nodded in agreement and Tzuyu’s heart stirred at the word family.
“I just met you guys two days ago,” she wondered. “Why are you so nice to me?”
Chaeyoung looked at her with a sober expression. “Because we know what it’s like growing up in a world that wasn’t nice to us.”
“And whatever you’re going through right now, us supers are probably the only the ones that do understand,” Dahyun added. “So we have to stick together.”
She chuckled. “I doubt all supers are this nice though.”
“Maybe not,” Chaeyoung shrugged as they reached the dorm. “But me and Dahyunnie have learned that you’ve got to go into things whole heart or don’t do it at all.”
“But why me?” she asked, following them inside where they changed into their tracksuits.
Dahyun looked up at her. “You know how you don’t talk much?”
“Yeah…”
Chaeyoung smiled. “Well, growing up you always have everybody telling you what to do, when really what you need is space to figure out who to be.”
Dahyun patted her on the shoulder. “So we figured you were a good one, Tzuyu-yah.”
…
They sat on the bleachers under the tall ceiling of the academy’s gymnasium joined by groups of wide-eyed girls in tracksuits and others in uniform exchanging excited whispers.
Others were not so quiet and Tzuyu lifted her brows at the bits she overhead.
“I was in the library and saw Sana sunbaenim! She’s, like, this tall. She looked at me and saw a tag sticking out the back of my school jacket. She tucked it back in and said, ‘Now you’re perfect’!”
“She called you perfect???”
“Oh my God, I’m so jealous.”
“Don’t take Jihyo sunbaenim’s name in vain, Eunice!”
“How did you survive??”
“I would die on a battlefield for Minatozaki Sana.”
Tzuyu thought that was just ridiculous. They looked too young to have ever been on a battlefield that wasn’t the school yard at recess. But it did make her think about what she couldn’t figure out about the Blue Squad captain.
Sana had been nice to her at times, yet other times she was completely indifferent to Tzuyu’s existence. Tzuyu had wondered if this was normal - but it seemed that to everyone else, Sana’s superhero call sign checked out. It frustrated her, though she would keep this to herself like she did everything else.
Instead she asked, “Everyone really likes Sana sunbaenim, don’t they?”
“Yep,” Chaeyoung answered. “And they all want to date her.”
Tzuyu felt a twinge in her chest. She told herself it was… fine… that Sana had so many admirers, that this was just some acid reflux. She did drink a lot of coffee today, and it wasn’t because she was anxious about dueling practice or Sana or anything. She just wanted to be ready.
Besides, she didn’t like Sana sunbaenim like that. Sana was just another girl who just happened to be super captain, super cool, and the prettiest girl she had ever seen and—
“Jjirit jjirit. Earth to Tzuyu.”
She shook her head. “What?”
Chaeyoung laughed. “You just zoned out. Are you okay?”
“Yeah… I was just thinking about… coffee.”
The two eyed her with suspicion. “Okay.”
“J-line!” someone shouted, and everyone turned to see the three duelers enter with others in navy tracksuits and duffels.
Tzuyu watched them smile and nod at the spectators, Sana even throwing in a few waves and smirks at some girls who looked like they were about to faint and roll down the bleachers.
“NO SANA NO LIFE!” someone yelled, and cheers rang out as the dueling team settled in.
“This is just practice?” Tzuyu asked.
Dahyun nodded. “Wait till you see a real match!”
Other squad members soon arrived and made their way up the bleachers, the School Meal Club bowing as Blue Squad’s lieutenants joined them.
“Settling in okay?” Nayeon asked her.
“Yes, unnie, thank you.”
“Popcorn?” Jihyo asked them, holding out a bag. They even had soft drinks. Dueling seemed a serious affair.
Tzuyu noted some members of the high school squads on the floor. “Does the team include high school?”
“That’s our JV team,” Jihyo answered, tossing back a handful of popcorn. “They practice together.”
Nayeon pulled the bag away. “You’re gonna finish everything before practice even begins.”
“Unnieeee,” Jihyo whined and Tzuyu almost laughed. She thought about how intimidating these girls seemed the other day and was surprised to see this side of them.
The teams began stretching and Nayeon pointed out the roster.
“Momo and Sana are the team captains. Moonbyul unnie, Seulgi unnie, Mina, Soyeon, Lisa, and Yeri are the starters. Jeongyeon’s the keeper. Wheein, Joy, and Yuqi are the reserves. Jisoo-yah is head coach and Joohyunnie is the team medic.”
No wonder Sana was so popular. She was a super squad captain and the dueling team captain? Sheesh. Leave some for poor Eunice over there.
“There are nine players on the field for each side,” Nayeon explained. “It’s like that human sport, what was it—”
Jihyo leaned over and whispered, “Soccer.”
“Ah, yes, ‘the beautiful game’,” Nayeon said, nodding with Jihyo. “Though I don’t know what could be more beautiful than Jeongyeon diving across the goal to make a spectacular save as the whistle blew at the World Cup—”
Jihyo scrunched her forehead. “Jeongyeon what?”
Nayeon’s eyes widened and her cheeks tinged pink. “Ah… anyway. Dueling is like soccer and but with three balls and… well, dueling.”
Jihyo, sensing Nayeon hiding her face behind the popcorn bag, continued explaining. “The formation is 3-3-2 plus the keeper.”
She drew a diagram on her clipboard.
“Three balls start in the middle of the field. When the match begins, the three players on the front line of each side battle for possession of a ball. They’re the attack line.
Whoever gets a ball continues to the next line of three players - the defense line - and tries to get past them. If they do, they can take a shot at goal.
The last two players are the support line, who do everything from help defend the goal, to help retain possession or attack.
As for the dueling part, you can use anything from your powers to your weapons on the ball.
You can have different strategies depending on your players’ powers and weapon skills. That’s where teams sub in and out from the reserves based on how to best counter the other team’s strategy.
If your team gains possession of all three balls on the field, you can make a power play. That’s when you can combine your powers for a super attack on goal.
If you score on a super attack, it’s called a touchdown because play has to stop to put up a new goal since it usually gets destroyed.”
“That’s very intricate,” Tzuyu noted.
“It is,” Jihyo nodded. “But that’s the fun of it. You never know what kind of composition the team’s gonna bring out.”
“Are you three trying out?” Nayeon asked.
Chaeyoung nodded and looked at Tzuyu with what she could only guess were an attempt at puppy eyes, making her blink and nod in reflex.
“Yay!” Nayeon clapped. “What about you, Dubu?”
Dahyun lifted her brows behind her sunglasses and pointed at herself. “Me?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, I’m just here for moral support, sunbaenim.”
…
Tzuyu found herself on the gym floor doing stretches with the other hopefuls. JV had already begun their practice session on the other side of the court with the girls trying out for the season.
She watched Professor Chung Ha, Head of Stone department and the JV team coach, look over a clipboard with JV’s captains, Violet Squad’s Eunbi and Yellow Squad’s Hayoung.
She learned from Chaeyoung that Jisoo sunbaenim came from a dueling family as her little sister Gyuri was one of the JV starters, and that Violet Squad was full of athletes, with Hitomi, Minju, Yujin, and Wonyoung all being starters.
Yeji and Ryujin from Black Squad were also starters, with Yena and Chaeyoungest rounding up the reserves, and Violet Squad’s Yuri as the team medic.
Equipment had been laid out on the floor including armor guards and… axes?? Knives?? A hammer??
Tzuyu gulped. No wonder they needed a team medic. She was beginning to regret Chaeyoung’s damn puppy eyes and wished she could have stayed being “moral support” with Dahyun.
She eyed a recurve bow on the floor with a bright red riser and sleek black limbs. It looked like a safe choice.
When they were told to choose their desired equipment, she made a beeline to the bow and picked it up along with a black quiver.
Chaeyoung had also opted for a bow and gave her chest and arm guards and a leather tab for her fingers. “Something tells me you’ve never held a bow before.”
“Nope,” she said grimly, tying the quiver around her waist.
Chaeyoung gave an encouraging smile. “It’s okay. I’m no good at it either.”
They practiced on the side, all of Tzuyu’s shots falling short or past the target, when JV and varsity began their scrimmage.
She watched as Jeongyeon took her spot in front of the goal and clapped her gloves together. Neon Squad’s Soyeon stood at center defense flipping a baseball bat around like a nunchuck. Lisa and Yeri joined her on either side, slinging what looked like colorful water guns the size of shotguns on their shoulders.
“Are those real?” she asked Chaeyoung.
“Oh, they’re real,” the girl nodded. “They only look like water guns, but they’re particle blasters and fire energy beams like lasers. They’re the same things we use on missions, though they’re not nearly as colorful.”
White Squad’s Moonbyul and Seulgi high-fived each other and jogged in place at the support line, Moonbyul sporting one of the particle blasters in a thinner and longer shape, Seulgi wielding two knives.
And, as she should have expected, J-line took their spots in front forming the team’s attack line. Momo held dual particle blasters the size of pistols at center. Mina stood at her right with similar blasters but in the shape of revolvers from long ago. And at front left stood Sana, holding a shiny black recurve bow, a black and pink quiver around her waist.
The scrimmage was a blur of figures - Momo dashing about, Hayoung leaping halfway across the court, Hitomi flipping between dueling lines - and torrents of fire, sonic blasts, and Soyeon’s supernovas that weakened but dissipated at Eunbi’s force fields.
Amidst all of this was a light show of energy beams from particle blasters, crisscrossing like lightsabers engaged in arcade pong.
Yujin flew high above, overseeing the floor and mentally relaying the varsity’s front line movements to Yeji at the JV goal. Wonyoung got possession of a ball and grew seven times her size into a literal giant, making a rush to the varsity goal - only to be held back by a black hole vortex created by Moonbyul, causing Yujin to fly down in support.
The momentary gap in Yeji’s recon was utilized by J-line. Mina pirouetted, firing rhythmic blasts from her revolvers as Hayoung bounded overhead, shooting the ball out of the high school junior’s hands and into the air where an arrow from Sana’s bow hit it square in the middle, causing it to sail right into Momo’s hands, who then sprinted towards goal while evading Ryujin’s hadouken blasts.
Luckily for JV, Minju’s heightened senses were able to pinpoint the Sonic hedgehog that was Hirai Momo and she signaled to Gyuri, who morphed into a replica of Nayeon, causing the varsity captain to do a double take and slow down, wondering what in the world her Nayeonnie was doing in the middle of all this crossfire—
Giving Minju a clear shot with her arrow to hoots from the spectators for Gyuri’s cheeky play, as Coach Jisoo cracked up on the sidelines and Blue Squad laughed in the stands, pointing at the real Nayeon, who was bowing for the crowd.
Both sides called subs, sending White Squad’s Wheein and Violet Squad’s Yena into the fray. Yena made quick work of one of the balls, slashing it apart on accident with her claws and leaving herself open to Wheein self-detonating in the vicinity. The whistle blew as Yena held her hand on the floor, grimacing.
Wheein apologized, helping the high school junior sit up as Yuri hurried over with a worried face.
“Hey,” Yuri said in a soft voice as she opened Yena’s damaged hand. The metal claws extending from her knuckles were torn and smoking, her palm burned and showing flesh.
Yena tried to smile through a wince. “Hey, yourself.”
Yuri put her hand over her squad mate’s. There was an orange glow and Yena’s hand and claws looked like nothing ever happened to them.
She flexed her hand as Yuri watched her. She broke into a lopsided grin. “Thanks, Yuri-yah.”
Yuri gazed at her, smiling. “All in a day’s work for the team medic. You did good, Ducky.”
Eunbi stood over them with a smirk. “Do you guys wanna get a room… or let’s get back in the game?”
“Ha ha.” Yena stood, cheeks red.
Yuri gave one last smile before heading back to the sidelines and Wheein patted Yena on the back. “I ship it.”
The game resumed and the score was tied as the clock showed 20 seconds remaining. Jisoo called them in for a timeout.
She sketched a play on her clipboard. “What do you think, Sana-yah?”
Sana looked at the others and grinned. “I say we turn it up.”
“My thoughts exactly, Cap,” Soyeon smirked.
“Alright, hands in!” Momo told them.
“Shigana!”
“10 9 8”
“Dallyeo bwa!”
“10 9 8 7 6”
“Let’s go let’s go let’s go!”
The teams went back on the court. J-line quickly took possession of all three balls and the clock ticked down to 10 seconds, allowing for one final rush at goal.
The crowd held its breath as Lisa and Yeri fired blast after blast from their shotguns, creating a cloud of smoke over the attack line. JV grouped up in front of Eunbi’s force field.
6 seconds.
Joy then created a wall of earth right next to the force field, causing JV’s captain to take it down and form another further up. The smoke cleared revealing J-line winking and giving waves, their hands empty.
Yeji panicked. “Where are the balls??”
3 seconds.
Minju stilled and listened, then turned back and yelped, “They’re behind the wall!”
But it was too late.
Joy took down the wall, revealing tiny team medic Bae Joohyun tossing 3 balls together in the air and whipping out a bow and arrow.
1 second.
The senior looked down her sights and let the arrow fly. It skewered all three balls, ripping them through the back of the net.
“TOUCHDOWN!”
The whistle blew and varsity ran into a group hug to the cheers of the crowd.
Tzuyu clapped. “Wow.”
So this was dueling.
The rest of Blue Squad had joined them on the floor to congratulate the team and Jihyo called out, “Fun, right?”
She nodded.
The lieutenant smiled. “Told ya.”
“I didn’t know you could sub in the team medic! Where did Irene sunbaenim come from?” she asked.
“Joy’s pocket,” Nayeon answered, laughing.
…
Practice resumed with training the newbies, and it was just Tzuyu’s luck she picked the same weapon that Sana preferred, because she found herself standing in front of a target as the captain observed in silence.
Tzuyu watched as Chaeyoung fired an arrow that landed on an 8. She clapped as Sana nodded, Chaeyoung breathing in relief.
The blonde then faced her and Tzuyu took a breath.
She took an arrow from her quiver and drew it on her bowstring. She closed an eye, sights shaking into view. Just shoot the yellow circle, Tzuyu. Not that hard. It’s yellow and in the center—
Phwooosh!
Her arrow flew, arching into the air… into the opposite direction of the target - thunk! - and spiked on the floor by the bleachers, just missing Eunice & Co. who sat eyes wide as their life reeled before them.
She ducked her head with a sorry as the gathering on the bleachers glared.
Sana teetered on the balls of her feet beside her and quirked her lip. “You know, people usually fire in the direction of the target and not… at the spectators.”
Tzuyu winced in embarrassment.
Sana took an arrow from Tzuyu’s quiver and took Tzuyu's hand, placing the fletching end into her palm. She then moved both onto the bowstring and drew the arrow with her.
Tzuyu felt a shiver run down her neck as Sana held her hand and the nock of the arrow in place as she fixed the freshman’s stance. Sana smelled like flowers.
“There. Are you gonna be able to hit the target now?” Sana chirped, big brown eyes looking up at her in nonchalance.
Tzuyu gave a nervous chuckle and nodded.
The blonde smirked and turned to Chaeyoung. “You’re in charge. Make sure she doesn’t kill anyone.”
…
“Oh, man. I don’t think I can do anymore…” Chaeyoung muttered, laying on the floor of the common room.
One Dahyun stepped over her. “What, dueling practice?”
The girl on the floor closed her eyes looking very pitiful and nodded. “It. Hurts.”
Another Dahyun hopped over. “That’s because you didn’t stretch, dummy. Tzuyu looks fine.”
Tzuyu shook her head on one of the couches. “It hurts too.”
“Tzuyu always looks fine. But deep down!” Chaeyoung threw a hand up in the hair in soliloquy. “She’s holding the same dark struggle coursing through our myocytes.”
Tzuyu chuckled. “…Thank you, unnie.”
Dahyun number three sighed. “You’re a fucking nerd, Chaeyoung.”
“Why, thank you.”
“Hey maknaes,” Jihyo walked in carrying groceries with Jeongyeon.
They got up and began helping the two put them away.
“What is this towel doing on the floor?” Jeongyeon asked. “Chaeng!”
“It was only for two seconds!”
Jihyo chuckled and led Tzuyu out of the war zone that was the kitchen. They started fixing the cushions when Tzuyu noticed a photo on the wall of a younger J-line.
“Who’s this?” she asked, pointing to an older girl in the photo. Momo was grinning with a matching outstretched arm as the girl, Mina had her eyes closed with a gummy smile as the girl ruffled her hair, and Sana was hugging the girl around her neck from behind like a toddler in a playground, laughing brighter than Tzuyu had ever seen.
Jihyo looked at the photo with a sad smile. “That’s Saram unnie, an older Blue Squad member.”
“She was close with J-line sunbaenim?” Tzuyu asked.
Jihyo nodded. “Knew them since they were kids. She was their mentor and practically raised them, taught them all they know. They wanted to join Blue Squad because of her.”
“Where is she now?”
Jihyo pursed her lips and replied softly, “We lost her on a mission last year.”
“I’m sorry, unnie.”
Jihyo looked up at her. “She had blue eyes like you, too. You remind me of her sometimes.”
…
They arrived early and jogged in the training field, a cool breeze playing on their faces. The rest of Blue Squad soon strolled over, Momo zooming past them carrying a giggling Nayeon.
“Ah, it’s Blue Squad’s friendly neighborhood bottom, Hirai Momo,” Seulgi teased.
“Momo sunbae’s a bottom?” Dahyun asked.
The Speed Mochine deposited Nayeon on the grass laughing.
“Yep. She have the muscles but is a softy.”
The Red Squad captain went to join the other officers and Chaeyoung shrugged. “Looks like you’re gonna have to learn to top, unnie.”
Dahyun’s eyes widened. “Me?? Oh no, I don’t—”
The shorter girl patted her shoulder. “Be cool! I heard Momo sunbae likes cool girl types.”
Dahyun squinted. “What do you mean cool girl types? I’m cool!”
“Who likes cool girls?” Yeri asked, walking over with Yuqi and Shu Hua from Neon Squad.
“Ah. Nothing,” Dahyun flushed.
“Yeri’s cool,” Yuqi offered.
“No, I’m not.”
Yuqi pulled the Red Squad freshman’s hand up. “Yeah right. Nayeon sunbaenim gave her a freaking ‘friendship’ ring. You’re basically cool with all the officers!”
“It’s because of Joohyunnie, not me.”
“Mhmm.”
“Yeri-yah, do you like Nayeon sunbaenim?” Chaeyoung wiggled her brows.
Yeri had turned into a grape. “No!”
Shu Hua turned to Yuqi. “I told you everyone jumps for Nayeon sunbaenim like there’s no tomorrow.”
“Nayeon unnie is my friend!” Yeri spoke up. “Besides, everyone knows she’s been pining after Jeongyeon unnie since they were kids - sorry Chaeng.”
“No harm done. Just spare me the details.”
“Does your sister even know, Chaeyoung unnie?” Shu Hua asked.
Chaeyoung sighed. “She’s about as dense as this rock.”
“That’s too bad. She’s such a girl crush,” Yuqi smiled sadly, Shu Hua and Yeri nodding in agreement.
Tzuyu couldn’t believe they were having this conversation about their seniors, but then again she figured it was normal even among superheroes.
“Speaking of girl crush…” Yeri motioned to Pink Squad arriving.
They weren’t wrong, Tzuyu thought. She admired the way the four girls gave off their vibe effortlessly. Jennie sunbaenim might be the Ice Queen, but Tzuyu could see why she was still quite popular.
She had also noticed the Pink Squad junior walking the hallways with Nayeon and Irene, and Tzuyu liked both of the seniors very much, which made her think that deep down, Jennie sunbaenim wasn’t really an ice queen but perhaps just putting on a brave face to hide the things that hurt in life.
“Aren’t they all like a messy love quadrangle?” Shu Hua asked.
Yuqi pursed her lips. “Well, Minnie unnie accidentally let slip that Lisa unnie and Jennie sunbaenim have been on and off for a while now.”
“Really??” Chaeyoung looked to Yeri for confirmation.
The Red Squad freshman sighed. “Jennie unnie wanted to keep it on the down low but apparently the whole academy knows anyway.”
Yeri watched with a sad smile as Jennie and Lisa shared a look before walking in separate directions, Jennie going to the officers with Jisoo and Lisa heading in the other direction with Rosé.
She shook her head. “They’re a Song of Ice and Fire, those two.”
They continued watching as Lisa and Rosé joined Momo and Mina, Momo joking with Chaeyoung the elder and Mina smiling with Lisa as they looked around the field.
Chaeyoung’s face turned glum. “I don’t think I’m the only one who likes Mina sunbae though.”
Yeri hugged her. “Myoui Mina is on everyone’s please be single list. But on the bright side, she is still single.”
Chaeyoung heaved her shoulders. “Yeah, but I’m just a freshman and she’s, well… Myoui Mina.”
“Oh, Chaengie,” Dahyun sighed, joining Yeri and slinging an arm over her fellow School Meal Club member. “You’re more than just a freshman.”
As the two were trying to hype the shorter girl up, Yuqi motioned, “Ah, Sana sunbaenim. What a busy professional flirt.”
Tzuyu turned and saw as Sana tugged at Jeongyeon’s tracksuit zipper and suddenly leaned her face in, lips puckered, causing Jeongyeon to evade quicker than Momo could say jokbal, stumbling away and clutching her collar in shock.
The blonde captain snickered and hid behind Nayeon, but not without tripping on a patch of grass before setting her chin on the lieutenant’s shoulder as Nayeon, unfazed, read out instructions.
This was yesterday’s badass captain of the varsity dueling team?
“Does she like Jeongyeon sunbaenim?” she asked.
Yuqi shrugged. “Sana sunbaenim likes all types of girls.” The Neon Squad freshman then leaned in. “But I heard her cup of tea is youthful types…”
Tzuyu looked away, face neutral. “Is she dating anyone?”
“Who knows,” Yuqi replied. “She always has a string of suitors in front of her locker trying to confess.”
Shu Hua chuckled. “She probably dates like 8 girls at any given time.”
No wonder Sana liked being in the middle.
…
Jihyo lectured them today, walking back and forth accentuating the importance of things with lifted brows and a nod of the chin.
“The beginning is the time to make sure that you are in the proper frame of mind. This is something every super who’s been in the field knows. To begin your lesson on what it means to be a ‘super’, you must first understand where we came from.
The first record of preternatural activity on the Key Coast was in the 1200s, three centuries before Key City had even been founded. They called her ‘The Lady’ and she could create gold with the touch of a hand or even a breath.”
So the goddess on the school crest was real? Tzuyu thought it was all just myth.
They were put into pairs for training as Captain Kim Jennie taught them how to open with an attack. It was the most she’d heard the Pink Squad captain utter.
“An opening attack should open up your rib cage.” The captain breathed into a stance.
“It should reach in and twist your heart into a new order.” She closed her cat-like eyes and stilled.
“It should suggest that the world will never be the same again.” Her eyes fluttered open, glowing a haunting black, and she hurled a beautiful lattice of shimmering jagged ice from her hands that sliced a distant target cleanly in half.
The freshmen gaped in silence. One did not simply mess with Kim Jennie.
Jennie stood in front of them. “So attack elegantly. Attack fiercely, delicately, with surprise. Attack with everything at stake.”
They began sparring with their partners, Cpt. Kim’s words mixing with Lt. Park’s lecture in Tzuyu’s head.
“The people accused her of sorcery, as was the case in those days,” Jihyo continued. “So she created a fortress inside the mountains as a base between journeys to find others like her. It has been destroyed over the centuries in the great wars, but it still stands to this day. You know it as Key’s Preparatory of Preternaturals.”
There was great history on the ground on which Tzuyu stood. She didn’t know if she believed everything in her heart just yet, but she wanted to do it as much justice as the girls around her had, training their days away on this soiled earth all their lives. Going whole heart.
She pushed against a stone slab, sweat breaking across her forehead. She saw Sana watching in her periphery. She wanted to prove her wrong.
“We must also take special care to locate The Lady in her place on the Key Coast,” Jihyo’s lesson rang in her ears.
Tzuyu grunted, stretching her fingers, trying to hook onto anything on the stone.
“It is said that she was born in Europe and lived her early years there.”
There was a small shift. Pebbles rolled off.
“But we shouldn’t be mislead. The Fortress of Keys within these East Mountains is forever her place.”
The mighty rock was lifted. Tzuyu held it in her hands, fingers etched into the stone, and walked it over to the opposite ring of stones, dropping it on the dusty ground. Perhaps flimsy stems were pretty in their own way.
She looked up to see squad members clapping, this time for her, and noted a small smile on Sana’s face as the girl nodded.
She was about to smile back when the School Meal Club tackled her with excitement. Jeongyeon gave her a water bottle. Mina had brought a towel and began wiping the dust off her face.
When Tzuyu looked over to the spot where Sana stood, the girl had disappeared.
Beyond the stone rings at the edge of the hill, an odd eye glowed in the sunlight, studying the girl who carried the earth.
…
She was in the gymnasium making a checklist of the archery equipment when the Pink Squad captain entered to practice her pistol blasters.
Jennie gave a wave. “Hi.”
She glanced up. “Hi, me?”
Jennie looked around. “I don’t see anyone else here.”
“Ha… sorry, Jennie-nim.”
“It’s okay.”
Her fellow junior blasted away while Sana returned to her list. The girl was still firing at targets when Sana finished, so she decided to get a pair for herself because it was never too early or too late to practice.
She stood beside the brunette and lowered her visor, firing off a few rounds.
Pewww! Pewww!
The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, considering how much Sana enjoyed conversation. They were both focused when training. Maybe they had more in common than she thought.
Jennie was the first to speak up. “You are as good as they say, Sana-nim.”
She smiled. “Thank you. Not so bad yourself, Captain Kim.”
A chuckle. Then the girl’s face turned solemn as she studied the pistols in her hands. “You ever wish we didn’t have to do all this superhero stuff?”
Sana shrugged. “Only so I have more time to go shopping, I guess? As dumb as that sounds.”
Pewww! Pewww!
“Is that all you want to do?” Jennie continued.
“I wouldn’t mind a trip to Hawaii, like where all the humans go on vacation. Whatever a vacation is,” she replied.
“Life isn’t always what one likes, is it?” Jennie asked, her voice small.
Sana mulled her lip. “No, it isn’t.”
Jennie lowered the pistols. “I learned to cook and play a damn piano. I just haven’t had a chance to do it for anyone.”
“Same,” she sighed. “I feel like my life is changing and sometimes not at all, it’s weird. And then I feel guilty about wanting those things when Key City could fall at any time if we didn’t do our duty.”
There was a pause as they went to return the blasters. Instead of leaving, Jennie went to sit on the bleachers and stared at the ceiling.
“Do you still feel responsible for Saram sunbaenim’s death?”
Sana froze. No one dared to bring up the topic outside of her squad mates. But somehow, their short practice session was freeing. To her surprise, she had felt comfortable sharing her thoughts with the Pink Squad captain.
She joined the girl on the bleachers.
“My anger outweighs my guilt. I don’t know.” She scrunched her face. “Saram unnie wanted me to be Blue Squad captain, she wanted me to be a leader. I just don’t know if I’m on the right path sometimes without her here… It’s like you’re homesick for a place that won’t ever exist again.”
There was another pause. Jennie faced her. “But you’ve got it, Captain Minatozaki. I’ve seen supers come and go. The first time I saw you at Squads Training, I said to myself, ‘she’s gonna be a good one’.”
Sana lifted her brows in surprise as the girl continued.
“Can’t be good unless you love it.” Jennie turned her gaze somewhere past the walls of the gym, reminiscing. “The sun is just rising and you grab a duffel, walk out past the field. You head down the Clearview, Big Neck Ridge, and Salle Lake. Flash your light and wave to the lighthouse keeper on Nida Island.
The birds show up and the light hits you as you get to the bay. The girls are just waking up at the academy and you’re in charge, so you don’t have to go in till later… you’re running now, firing blasters, ice, and breath.”
Jennie looked back at her with a smile. “You’re a Key City superhero captain. Is there anything better in the world?”
Sana was smiling now too. Jennie also practiced in the mornings. Maybe it was a captain thing and maybe the girl was right. She was beginning to see that Jennie was the type of girl who had a soft heart but didn’t want anyone to know.
“Is that what keeps you going?” she asked her.
Jennie stood up and nodded. “I don’t think anyone really knows what the hell they’re doing. But I figure whatever sets off an avalanche in your chest is a good place to start.”
“You’re quite the poet, Captain Kim,” Sana chuckled.
The girl laughed. “Nah. You’ve got it in you too. We’re all a blink of an eye away from being awake.”
She turned to leave and Sana called out to her. “Jennie-nim! Friends?”
The captain smiled. “Friends.”
“Cool,” Sana laughed.
Jennie waved. “See you around, Sana-yah.”
…
She turned from the mirror. “Yes or yes? Or no, you could pick no, too.”
The girl smiled, moles shifting. “Me likey.”
“Ha. Thanks, Shakespeare.” She smoothed down her tracksuit jacket, looking at the mirror once more. “You really think so? I haven’t done this in a long time.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. Do you like it?”
San smiled lopsidedly and nodded. “Me likey likey likey. Although, you know, I like Twelfth Night better than Hamlet.”
“Ah, ‘is it a world to hide virtues in?’ Very fitting. Well, there you go,” Mina chuckled.
“Arigato, darling.”
“You’re welcome, honey.” She tossed the blonde a water bottle.
…
They were back on the gym floor for dueling practice when the teams arrived. Dahyun had joined them today and was firing arrows beside Chaeyoung which made Tzuyu smile. Sure, their limbs would ache later, but at least they would ache together.
The teams started stretching when Tzuyu noticed two of the starters missing. Dahyun had noticed too.
“I wonder where Sana sunbae and Mina sunbae are. They’re usually on time.”
Irene sunbaenim lined them up for archery and was correcting their stances when she looked past them and waved. “There you two are.”
They weren’t the only ones to turn around. It was like the cafeteria all over again.
The crowd whooped and team members smirked as Mina walked in, looking so elegant with her hair in a low ponytail. Behind her was Sana, blonde hair tied in a high ponytail, nape exposed but features sporting a calm confidence.
Tzuyu lifted her brows. Sana sunbaenim should put her hair up more.
As the teams scrimmaged, Tzuyu regarded the dueling captain, blonde ponytail whipping across her focused face as she shot arrow after arrow, never missing. Minatozaki Sana was entirely her own unique entity.
It was then she came to a realization.
“Great,” she muttered, hiding her face in her hands.
Chaeyoung looked at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Just a slight inconvenience…” she replied.
For Tzuyu realized she didn’t mind figuring out the question that was Minatozaki Sana. She realized she hadn’t minded since they first met.
Dammit. She did like Sana sunbaenim like that, after all.
But she knew this was not the time for school girl crushes. She had to remember why she was here in the first place. It was her duty to put aside her feelings for the bigger picture.
“Are you sure?” Chaeyoung asked.
She nodded. “Yeah.”
She turned away from the scrimmage and picked up her bow.
She continued practicing, even when the whistle blew at the end of the match and varsity celebrated another win, except for a blonde girl looking at her as she caught her breath, brushing back the loose strands of her ponytail.
…
It was the day of her Blue Squad trial and Tzuyu tugged at the collar on her red and yellow striped shirt as they walked towards the Squad Departments building.
Chaeyoung swatted her hand away. “Stop fiddling with it, you look fine.”
“I look like a McDonald’s.”
“No, you don’t. Besides, we all wore this for our trials. It’s good luck.”
Yeah, if the officers wanna order at the Tzuyu drive thru…
They entered the building and passed a few doors.
The Department of Solar Magic (SM). The Department of Arms Research & Testing (Cube). The Department of History & Defense (Stone). The Department of Yggdrasil Studies (YG).
The hallway was empty and silent. It was like walking a gauntlet in which nothing existed nor ever will, and of course Blue Squad’s had to be at the end.
They stopped in front of an old cherry wood door. The Department of Joint Powers (JYP).
“Unnie…” she turned to the two girls beside her.
“You’re gonna do great, we know it,” Dahyun smiled, straightening the younger girl’s collar.
Chaeyoung nodded. “We believe in you, Tzuyu-yah, hwaiting!”
She shifted her feet and nodded. The two wrapped her up in a tight hug.
The door opened and Momo’s head poked through, round wired glasses on her face. She grinned and looked at Tzuyu.
“We’re ready for you.”
The School Meal Club waved. “See you at Blue Squad dorm, Tzuyu-yah!”
She took a deep breath and walked through the door.
…
Momo led her into a big room with brick walls and maple wood floors, her sneakers squeaking as she walked in.
At the far end of the room was a long table and matching cherry wood chairs with blue tufted cushions.
Sitting on the chairs were Blue Squad’s officers and upperclassmen, all wearing variations of white button-down blouses and wire rimmed eyeglasses, each with a clipboard and a glass of water in front of them.
They remained quiet and sat upright, giving her pleasant smiles as she made her way to the center of the room. Momo took her seat between Jeongyeon and Sana, who was staring at her.
Tzuyu ignored it and looked away, for it was the one thing she did want to do, and that meant it was in the way of what she needed to do.
Jihyo spoke up. “Welcome to Teudoongie Trials. I’m Park Jihyo, Chief Executive Officer.”
They proceeded down the line of chairs.
“Im Nayeon, Head of Human Resources.”
“Myoui Mina, Chief Financial Officer.”
“Minatozaki Sana, Head of Marketing.”
“Hirai Momo, Chief Technology Officer.”
“Yoo Jeongyeon, Chief of Operations.”
Tzuyu bowed.
“Chou Tzuyu, are you ready to begin your trial?”
“Yes.”
“What is the first rule of the Super Squad?”
“No super gets left behind.”
Nayeon smiled as Jihyo wrote on her clipboard.
“Please show us an opening attack.”
She took her stance.
It should suggest that the world will never be the same again.
She became one with her breath. She took a pen from her rib cage and opened the book of her heart.
She wrote her story across the walls of the room.
…
In the furthest wing of the academy was a tower known as The Keep. A figure glided up its circular stairs and approached the vaulted cell.
The man felt a shadow over him and looked up.
“Have you come to get me out?” he asked.
“Not yet.”
He mumbled a curse.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
He let out a stifled yell and doubled over, clutching at his neck. He gasped at the figure, his eyes bulging and rolling backwards. “For—give…m—”
The invisible grip released him and he fell to the ground, coughing.
“You forget your role,” the voice resumed.
He filled his lungs with glorious air and faced the shadow. “It won’t happen again.”
“I’m sure.” The voice pitched higher, casual. “Now, where was I? Oh, yes. I’ve come to tell you to be ready.”
“It’s happening then?” he asked.
The voice hummed in reply.
“Why did it take so long? You let them get the girl. I heard they’re making her one of them, playing dueling games,” he sneered. “What’s the point in them being happy now if they’re going to be sad later?”
“Because they are going to be sad later,” the voice answered.
“Are you merciful then?”
The voice laughed, distorted. Like a gnashing of teeth.
“Haven’t you heard?” The figured turned back towards the stairs. “I don’t have a heart.”
The man looked out the tiny window of his cell, stretching out the ache in his neck. A lone howl cried out in the moonlight, vanishing into the nothingness of the night.
…