Chapter 31: Importance of Names

“That’s… isn’t that Darkday?”

“He’s so scary.”

“His costume is on point, though.”

“…But why is the instructor showing him to us?”

The murmurs and whispers of the student continued to fill the entire room with a slight stiffness. Even though it was only an image, they all could not help but feel uncomfortable while looking at it.

They all waited for Spectacular Mustache Man to say something, but after showing Darkday’s image on the screen, he became quiet. It wasn’t until the students’ whispers became weaker that his mustache once again began moving.

“Darkday,” he then muttered, “The approximate number of recorded deaths he has caused, as of today, amounts to almost 15 million… and that is only in the span of 4 years.”

And now, only Spectacular Mustache Man’s voice could be heard lingering in the classroom. The students who were still previously chatting with each other, now had all of their mouths shut as their eyes all landed on the floor.

“The government has not yet released a statement about it. But officially, Darkday is now statistically the deadliest creature on Earth, remotely followed by mosquitoes.” Spectacular Mustache Man firmly said as his mustache began moving like it had a life of its own, “He is also the villain who has killed the most superheroes, with most being tortured on camera. But they are the lucky ones… because some are still MIA, presumably kidnapped by Darkday. One could only think what he is doing with them.”

“…” The class still remained quiet. As for the individual in question himself, Riley was intensely listening to SMM’s every word.

“Most of you probably do not know this, but Darkday is currently also the only living person on the planet that has been deprived of human rights because everyone else in the same situation is dead; We have taught you to neutralize your opponent as much as possible in the Academy, but that does not cover Darkday– he is to be killed whenever possible.”

“…Oh,” Riley muttered. To hear all of this information regarding him, Riley could not help but feel amused– one might even say he was a little shy. He didn’t do the things he did for recognition, but to think the world was this interested in him was sort of exciting to hear.

“Now I have a question for all of you,” Spectacular Mustache Man then let out a long and deep breath as he looked the students in front of him straight in the eyes, “Do any of you know what the name Darkday was associated with before it belonged to Darkday?”

“…What?”

Once again, the room started to be filled with confusion as SMM’s question reached their ears. What was Darkday before Darkday? What kind of question was that?– Most of them thought. However, after a few seconds of muddled whispers, one of the students stood up.

“Aha!” It was Danny, the student that was able to stretch his body and was almost killed by Riley on the first day.

“Dark Day was a famous band!” He then bellowed.

“Exactly,” Spectacular Mustache Man’s mustache started to vibrate as he pointed his finger towards Danny, “Dark Day was a world-renowned rock band formed in California back in the 90s. But because of Darkday, they were forced to change their name. Do you know what this means?”

“…”

“Your names can be taken from you,” Spectacular Mustache Man then started walking around the stage as he once again looked the students in the eyes, “No matter how badass, no matter how good, no matter how unique your chosen name is– they can be taken from you. If someone greater, if someone badder, if someone more popular comes along the way that wants your name; I assure you, they will get it.”

“…”

“There are many who wanted to claim my superhero name. One even had similar power to mine, able to control and harden his hair… but not one of them succeeded, do you know why!?”

Spectacular Mustache Man’s voice started to rise as he stomped his foot on the floor; his voice, causing some of the students’ hairs to stand on edge.

“Because I stood tall! Because I proved to the world, by my actions, that I am the only Spectacular Mustache Man in the world!”

“!!!”

And then, all of a sudden, most of the students stood up and started clapping their hands; the sound of their cheers almost seeping from the sound-proof walls of the Academy.

They all knew that the Academy would have them choose their superhero names early, but who knew that it would actually be this dramatic? One might even say ceremonial.

And sure enough, Spectacular Mustache Man’s speech inspired all of them; with some even changing the names they have thought of right there and then. The cheering continued on for almost a full minute before SMM raised his hand and started gesturing to the students to calm down.

“Alright, please return to your seats so we can start. You were given a few hours to think of your superhero names, so I assume all of you are ready to present your names in front of the class,” SMM said as he walked to the side of the stage, “You also need to share why you chose the name. Now, who wants to go fi–“

“Please let me!”

And before SMM could even finish his words, Silvie raised her hand and stood up.

“Hm,” SMM stroked his mustache before nodding, “Of course, the top student wants to go first. I expect nothing less, proceed.”

“Thank you!” Silvie took in a deep breath; glancing towards Riley before resolutely walking to the stage without even the slightest of hesitation. She then stood there, facing the rest of her class with a small smile on her face.

“The name I chose for my superhero name… is Mega Girl.”

“Hm,” Spectacular Mustache Man immediately smirked as soon as he heard the name Silvie chose, “Someone from the previous class has chosen that name as well. Not to mention many new superheroes have tried it, but none of them were recognized and accepted by the people,” he then said.

“I do not care, it belongs to me.”

Silvie shook her head before once again looking at Riley, “A friend told me that I reminded him of Mega Woman. And for the sole reason that I do not want to disappoint him, I will do my best to not only deserve that name… but to also someday have the right to be Mega Woman.”

“…Demn,” Gary muttered the collective thought of most of their classmates.

“Good, good,” Spectacular Mustache Man could not help but let out a robust chuckle as he watched as Silvie returned to her seat, “That is the kind of fire that I want to see in all of you, now who wants to go next!?”

No one, it would seem as most of the students in the class just started looking at each other.

“And you say I am the greedy one,” Gary clicked his tongue several times as soon as Silvie was back on her seat, “And wow, you really chose the name Riley gave you, ha… this is smelling like love AF.”

“N… no! Didn’t you listen to what I said!?”

“AF?” Riley joined in on the conversation.

“As foretold,” Gary snickered, “Loverboy strikes again, maybe that should be your superhero name?”

“It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

“What, don’t listen to him! You still haven’t heard my proposed name,” Silvie complained, “I thought of this new one just now so it might need a little work, but I think the name Silver M–“

“Mega Girl.”

And once again, before Silvie could announce the name she wanted for Riley, she was interrupted. However, it wasn’t only her that stopped whatever it is they were doing, but the whole class.

Even Riley could not help but turn his attention back to the stage. And there, a tall female student, whose long jet-black hair almost reached to her knees, stood unwaveringly. Her almond-shaped eyes, which were of a bright purple color, stared glaringly towards Silvie.

Silvie did not falter, however, as she returned the glare of the female student. If she wasn’t mistaken, the female student’s name was Tomoe Reynolds– the one who came up on top of the Elemental group.

“My superhero name is Mega Girl,” Tomoe repeated her words, “I chose it for the simple fact…

…that I want it.”

“…”

Don’t they deserve a day where no one causes any trouble!? — was now the collective thought of the students of Class 1-V.