[Mutant Academy]

  After distributing the gifts to everyohe professor called us to his offid told us that gambling wasn't a good thing to do, then praised me for helping Ghost Spider stop Rhino in time, so, it kinda took some heat off our back. I was ready to take the bme fambling but he didn't press much about it a us go with a sigh.

  "That was easy. He was in a good mood," Jean said as we walked out of his office.

  I nodded. "We just got lucky. So, how about we divide the cash?"

  Jean smiled. "You keep it. I got what I wahanks for today."

  'What she wanted?!' I stared at her in shock. "Jean, are you sure? This is a lot of money."

  She shook her head. "It's fine. Enjoy your first earn. Besides, I still have some cash left from the st time. It's all good."

  "Wow. Thanks, Jean!" I couldn't believe my ears. She was really giving me her cut?!

  Jean giggled. "Don't mention it. It was a fun day. Well, I'm gonna take a nap. See ya." She left the hallway and started climbing upstairs.

  I went to my room and took out the remaining cash. I still have around 70 gra after lund shopping. Now, should I just save it or maybe open a bank at? Yeah, a bank at seems like a good idea. So, after freshening up, I decided to open an at on my new phone. Yup! I bought a new phone, not too high-end, just enough to handle regur tasks without any hitch.

  It took an hour or so to fill out the details and identity verification. The face ID that the Professor made for me was too good. Anyway, now, all I have to do is go to their brand deposit the cash. There was also an optiohe bank sends an employee home to take the cash and finalize some dots, but it's better if I go there and do it myself. I'll go tomorrow.

  I opehe news page and there it was, "Rhino apprehended after rampage, thanks to quitervention by Ghost Spider and a mysterious ice-wielding hero."

  Mysterious Ice-Wielding Hero Huh... Well, luckily my face was covered, so o worry. As for cameras and all that surveilnce shits Shield does, I'm pretty sure they already know about me by now. Everything is good as long as they don't disturb my peaceful life.

  ..

  ..

  Three days passed like a breeze...

  Today is Christmas and it was supposed to be a happy day, well, there were some problems in Siberia, so, most of the X-Me yesterday. Jean also went with them. I wao spend some time with her, but... It is what it is. There were only a few of us in the academy. So, we had a little party. Of course, everyo something for me sihey knew I didn't have any experieh holidays since I'm a e... Well, orphan after the memory rewrite. So yeah, everyo me some presents!

  It was snowing hard outside, and now I was sittihe window, looking out. From my room, I see the street mps, there were very few people walking around due to the snowfall. So, it was basically me, drinking a cup of hot chocote, staring out the window, and mindlessly thinking about random stuff.

  Haaa... I need a goal. Ba my past life, my only goal was to fight, earn money, and survive at any cost. But in this world, I was just thrown into it without any goal. Now that I think about it, it isn't that bad, right? After mastering a couple of more mutations, I just leave this pd try to live a normal life, away from all troubles. Maybe, help out the heroes when they are dying or whatever.

  Ah! I almost fot. The New York invasion is yet to occur. I gotta do something to prevent civiliahs or should I just run away? Nah! Let's fuck up those maes and maybe if I'm lucky, I'll be able to absorb some more power from the heroes. I wonder if my power would work on Thor or Loki? Even my guesses are getting crazy at this point. I smiled while tinuing to gaze at the snow, thinking of things.

  ..

  [1 year ter]

  1 year passed...

  I've mastered Ice mutation to its limit. Now, I finally walk in the air without any effort at all. I also taught Bobby this teique. He was a quick learner, but not faster tha took me around two more months to master that power, aook two months and a week. There is no need for aation anymore.

  sylocke's power. Let's just say, I'm deadly at a close bat and I get into other's mind. Yeah! Those dreams htmares are now under my plete trol. Now I go to cas... Ahem! I mean, I'll use this power responsibly and only use it for my pers... To help others in need. Yeah, that's it. That's what I was going to say.

  As for the third mutation, it was Kitty's phasing power. That shit is good. Passing through walls is dope. I don't think I have to expin how awesome her mutation is, right?

  Moving on... Jean and I are kinda dating. Well, at least I call it dating. Over the year, we went out on multiple outings. It's just that, her of us asked each other formally and everyone calls it "friendly hangouts." FRIENDLY HANGOUTS!

  was the matter of moving out of the academy and starting my own life. I mean, I 't just stay there forever without having a py own, right? I made enough from my iment over the year to buy a new house and with my power, I earn enough through other means. Nothing illegal or anything. Just beat up the bad guys and take their moake down big mafias angs, take their money and cars, ahem on the bck market. Like that.

  Right now, I'm sitting in the teen area, sipping on a slushie.

  "I heard you are leaving this Sunday," A familiar voice came from behind. It was Jean's voice.

  I turned around, and there she was, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, a pyful smirk on her face.

  "Yeah," I replied, putting the slushie down. "It's time."

  Jean walked over and sat across from me, her eyes log onto mine. "It feels weird. I mean, you've been here for over a year. Feels like you're part of the furniture now."

  I ughed softly, trying to ighe weird feeling growing in my chest. "Part of the furniture? o know I blend in so well."

  She rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. The team's gonna miss you. I'm gonna miss you."

  That st part hit differently. I leaned ba my chair, watg her carefully. "You always visit. It's not like I'm going off the grid. And... what about our friendly hangouts?"

  She smirked at that, then her face turned serious. "You know what I mean. This past year... it's been good."

  There was a weight to her words. We'd danced around this for months now, but with me leaving, it felt like the clock was tig down. I wasn't sure how to ha.

  "You could e with me," I offered, half-joking, half-serious.

  Jean blinked in surprise, and then a soft ugh escaped her. "Tempting, but you know I 't. The X-Men need me here, and there's always something going on."

  I shrugged. "There's always going to be something going on. Doesn't mean you have to be the one solving every crisis."

  "Maybe." She paused, her gaze softening. "But that's not really the point, is it? You're leaving to find your own way, and I have mine here."

  It made sense, but it still sucked. We sat there in silence for a moment, both of us feeling the unspoken things hangiween us.

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