Shot of Silence

Chapter 12: Initial Notes

Heath hummed to himself as he flipped through more pages of the files in his current possession.

In the name of collecting data about his new environment, Heath had observed their target the entire day before proceeding to ask both Perry and Lillian if they had any additional information on each and every student of I-9. After all, above all else, he was now a teacher. So, rather than focusing on his mutant co-worker, his primary attention should be on the students’ development.

With that in mind, Heath carefully examined each file, paying close attention to every student's record. He reviewed their accomplishments, acknowledged their difficulties, and tried to understand what made each of them special. In his new role, Heath wasn't just keeping track of facts; he was also making initial notes on how to assist these young students in growing and succeeding in their futures.

Regarding that, quite surprisingly, through the short observation, Heath discovered that the mutant had a few good ideas if he decided to take things seriously. Perry was, surprisingly, an intelligent being. 

It seemed like he was committed to his role as a teacher as well. Heath found the mutant to be sincere when he asked about why he wanted to be a teacher out of all things. With that in mind, Heath decided to ask for a bit more information regarding the students from both Perry and Lillian before his first time teaching the class later.

‘Class I-9. The final section in the roster of nine classes within the 9th grade at Aetheridge Academy High School. The reason why the section name is put upfront is due to how the hierarchy works within the academy…’ Heath couldn’t help but scowl as he noticed this. 

The higher your class, the more power you hold among your peers. 'There are even reports of a student from class B-7 harassing a 9th grader from a lower section.'

Unsurprisingly, the report wasn’t taken seriously by the teachers or the faculty. There wasn’t even a written account of that event or any similar incident. He wouldn’t have known this if it weren't for his parallel self's memory of the teachers gossiping loudly in their lounge back at the main building.

And yet, class I-9 exists.

‘I suppose it’s not a permanent class though…’

Class I-9 is a special class that doesn’t appear every year. In fact, it was created specifically to isolate troublesome students if within a grade there are more than three problematic kids to handle.

'This year we have eight students in total,' Heath hummed. It seems like his parallel self was against the creation of this class and the placement of these kids. After all, now that he reads their chart, it’s not like these students were stupid, well, not all, if any.

‘These kids.’ From the looks of it, it’s easy to tell how they’re made outcasts because no one really wanted to handle them at the main building.

‘And the moment Henko asked the chairman to keep my job, I was destined to teach here regardless of Perry’s existence.’ It seems like his parallel self was also abandoned by the faculty.

From his parallel self’s memory, Heath found out how the chairman would have been the one whipping these students back into shape, considering that there’s usually only one or two students annually. 

The school boasts an impeccable track record with no instances of dropouts or students being held back a grade. However, they also have quite a high passing grade to maintain. So, it’s not that the passing grade was pushed lower; rather, the students were pushed to achieve good grades no matter the means.

‘Well, ain’t that a fix?’ Heath found his lips twitching as he closed the files about the students. He’s only read what’s on the surface, yet from these data alone, he could already see the grand picture on how the school works.

‘Now last but not least,’ he hummed, ‘—the blatant anomaly who now acts as the homeroom teacher of the I-9 class.’

[Perry, a self-proclaimed 32-year-old male, remains a mysterious figure with no known family background or discernible details about his past. Upon his arrival at the headquarters, he presented an unconventional trade proposal that raised eyebrows among the team. However, it's worth noting that Perry has not exhibited any signs of hostility without provocation.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Perry's abilities is his extraordinary capacity to stretch his body, a feat that defies conventional human physiology. Additionally, he has demonstrated the astonishing capability to manifest additional limbs, akin to tentacles, at will. This unique attribute sets him apart as a mutant with potential capabilities that warrant further investigation.

Despite ongoing efforts, there has been limited success in unearthing substantial information about Perry's origins or personal history. It's plausible that the dossier currently available for review is intentionally limited, leaving critical aspects of his background shrouded in secrecy. This suggests the existence of a 'safe' file, meticulously curated to reveal only a fraction of what may lie beneath the surface.

Perry's enigmatic presence poses a compelling enigma, one that invites deeper exploration into the extent and nature of his extraordinary abilities. As further research unfolds, it is anticipated that new revelations will shed light on the true potential and background of this intriguing individual.]

‘Such an excessive word-stretch,’ he sweatdropped after putting the file down. He couldn’t help but find the report to be a dummy version of the original one if it actually exists.

‘How interesting…’ He couldn’t help but comment once he finished reading everything given to him. ‘It seems like I couldn’t get exposed to everything I wanted to know.’

Then again, considering his current status as a law-abiding and innocent civilian, he’s not surprised that the ‘safe’ file doesn’t contain anything alarming. 

‘I suppose it was for the better,’ Heath inwardly nodded in approval.

And so, having gathered all this valuable information, he felt well-prepared to commence teaching this intriguing class.