Chapter Text
“I’m assuming you're wondering why I've gathered you all today.” Principal Dainsleif said to the trained eyes on him in the meeting room. It was 20 minutes after the final bell. Not a single sound was heard outside nor inside the room as the occupants waited for the man to speak once more.
Dainsleif simply sighed - a sigh that indicated that what the subject for the impromptu gathering of the dorm teachers and their respective student council members - had given the man a headache.
“I've received an email from the principal of UA to do an exchange program between their second year hero classes and our own students.”
Dainsleif quickly raised his hand to silence the upcoming onslaught of questions, concerns, and the occasional jab.
“Please let me read you all the email before you all make your comments and queries,” The man pulled out his laptop, clicked a few times and cleared his throat once he found the email that made him scrutinise and analyse it for 3 whole hours before finally giving up.
“Dear Principal Dainsleif,
I would like to introduce myself: My name is Principal Nedzu of UA Academy. I have sent you this email to propose a deal of sorts that I think you'll take quite the interest in.
Ever since the war that has left Japan in a state of disarray and a thin trust towards heroes, we would like to send our now second-year Hero Course students to Teyvat to not only get away from criticism of the media, but to improve themselves as heroes. We figured having them train with Vision holders will improve their leadership and team working skills and to rely on each other during combat.
In turn, Vision holders will not only exchange their cultures, but learn about other cultures as well. We understand that the world doesn’t have a positive view on Teyvat, much less, Teyvat Academy. We hope that this exchange program will begin to open more opportunities for your students to explore the world and establish meaningful connections when they become full-fledged heroes.
Please message back ASAP for a confirmation. Thank you for your time.
Best regards,
Principal Nedzu”
When Dainsleif was done reading, the room was pin-drop quiet. No one spoke a single word.
The clock on the wall above the door ticked the seconds down until finally-
“This is obviously a trap.”
“YEAH NO SHIT, RED!”
Kunikuzushi, or Kuni, screamed at the one who broke the silence first - a red haired man sitting opposite of them with his arms crossed and an unamused face adorned.
“What bullshit. “Opportunities for more students to explore the world and establish meaningful connections” my ass-”
“Please refrain from such language, Kuni.” A calmer voice from a girl with white hair and luminous green eyes gently scolded. The boy huffed but obeyed.
“While I don't agree with Mr. Kunikuzushi’s specific wording, this email seems rather…callous.” Another man with dark hair in a rat tail and amber eyes observed. The rest of the occupants in the meeting murmured agreements.
“I agree. It's abundantly clear that they're using the negative view on the country and academy as a scapegoat for the aftermath of the war and the mistrust in Japan’s hero society.” Dainsleif said. The words made everyone tense up.
“And with the wording of the email , it's obvious that this Principal Nedzu knows it as well. Not to mention the use of the word “we”, which I'm assuming is not just mentioning the UA staff and the school board.”
A tanned boy with long white hair narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth as he hisses the words, “The HPSC and the government.”
“Exactly. And I don't think I need to say out loud what they want to do.”
Various sets of eyes glanced at each other in acknowledgement before Dainsleif closed his laptop with a resounding THUMP, bringing everyone’s attention back to the end of the table.
“Not to worry now. I have already informed our Intelligence Agent and the Head of Security as well as other personnel that are currently “off-grid” to keep a very close eye on our visitors while they're here.”
“You're agreeing with this? We don't know how long they'll be staying.” Says a girl with purple hair styled into cat ears.
“It doesn't matter how long they'll be staying. It's what they plan to do while under our country’s surveillance that matters.”
“You say this as if you have this all planned out already,” A man with blue hair and an eye patch over his eye pipes out, a knowing smirk on his lips.
“We do. We have eyes and ears outside of Teyvat, after all. Our Natlan and Snezhnaya comrades have been generous with the info they have.” Dainsleif quirks up a smirk of his own.
A heavy sigh came from the left side of the table. A woman with pink hair and kitsune ears also has a grin of her own.
“It's been a while since I've had something to play with. The school year so far has been rather boring, I was starting to age faster.” She yawns.
“Please note that they don't know what we know. The students they're planning to send possibly don't know as well, only hearing baseless rumours such as how our school implements abusive tactics-”
A scoff can be heard somewhere in the room.
“-Do your best to counter those rumours and their visionism when they enter and keep it professional. Getting defensive will give them the idea that we are hiding something when we are not. Also inform your respective dorm students of this first thing early tomorrow morning. We need to prepare as soon as we can.”
“So…we're really doing this, huh?” A nervous voice muttered. Everyone turned to look at the source, a girl with white and blue hair with heterochromic eyes hunched up in the chair she's sitting in.
Dainsleif let out another weary sigh. “It was about time anyways. The tension between us and the entire world has been unbearable. And now that Japan’s hero culture is being questioned and scrutinised, we are bound to be brought into the discussion as much as we dislike it.”
“And for good reason too. I seriously cannot understand the glamorization and putting heroes on the same level as gods. It's near cultish might I say,” Another woman with blue hair and piercing lavender eyes exclaims.
“Save your reservations in your own time. For now, meeting dismissed.”
Everyone filed out of the meeting room until it's just the Principal left sitting all alone. He ran his fingers through his hair again before opening his laptop and constructing a new email in reply.
“Challenge accepted, UA.” He whispered.