Jude's 2nd Character Story

[gyaxa]

Characters: Jude, Bianchi, Gray, & Asch

Jude: Will you start heading to the operations room after this, Bianchi?

Bianchi: (sighs)... Why do I have to tell you about every little thing?

Jude: You don’t if you don’t want to. I just want to know as soon as possible, but I’ll find out if I stick with you, either way.

Bianchi: And why are you sticking with me? I’m pretty sure I planned on eating lunch by myself…

Jude: We ran into each other, didn’t we? It’s only natural friends as close we are would eat together, even if our encounter was just a coincidence.

Bianchi: It’s not. I doubt that was even a coincidence. Well, it’s too late for me to start complaining now, but…

Jude: You’re right. We run into each other way too often for it to be just a coincidence. It has to be fate—

Gray: Woah…!

Jude: ? … What was that?
 

Gray: Oh God… Ohdearohdearohdear…! Please please please excuse me, I’m so sorry for running into youuu…!

Bianchi: Oh dear, are you a rookie? I don’t recall seeing you before…

Gray: !! Y-Yes, I am… I-I apologize…

Ah…

Bianchi & Jude: …?

Gray: I… I’m sorry, I must be going now! P-Please excuse me…!

Bianchi: Ah, he ran off…

He seemed surprised to see you. Is he an acquaintance of yours, perhaps?

Do you know who he is, Jude?

Jude: Not a clue.

Bianchi: I figured as much. It’d be more surprising if you did—

???: Where’d that shitty geek run off to?

Bianchi & Jude: ?
 

Asch: …!

Bianchi: My, fancy running into you, Asch-san. Why are you panting like that?

Asch: Tch, just my luck runnin’ into these freaks…

Jude: Oi, hold up.

Asch: What, damn it?

Jude: Bianchi asked you a question. Don’t ignore them.

Bianchi: Hey, quit that, Jude—

Asch: Just who do ya think you’re talking to?

Bianchi: Gracious, you… why couldn't he have just ignored us…

Asch: Hey, asshole.

… What's my name? C'mon, give it a shot.

Jude: ……

Asch: Ya better not say you forgot again. I'll beat the shit outta ya if you do.

Jude: … At this rate, there's no way I will. You're Asch, right?¹

Asch: That's Sir Asch Albright to you. Get it right this time.

Jude: ……

Bianchi: Speaking of which, aren't the two of you the same age? You were in the same grade in the Academy, if I recall?

Asch: Huh?! I'm a year older. Don't go mistakin' that.

Jude: That so? I'm surprised you remember.

Asch: …! You piece 'a shit…

You've been like that since the Academy days. Always brushin' me off and askin' me who I am…

Even though ya ended up runnin' away with your tail between your legs just when I was about to get around to givin' ya a piece of my mind.

Jude: ? I don't remember doing that.

Asch: Y-You literally left the Academy not even half a year in!

Jude: Oh… Well, that's true. I managed to get in, but the course ended up being pretty different from what I thought it'd be, so I got bored and left.

I pictured the place to be a lot more savage, you know? More beating, more crushing, with only the strong who never let their guard down allowed to survive…

Bianchi: What were you even planning on learning…

Jude: So then I spent the next few years doing as I pleased, and then when I got sick of that and returned to the Academy, I met Bianchi.

They truly made it all worth it, and that's not at all an exaggeration.

Bianchi: Yes it is. Don't say stuff like that at the drop of a hat, would you…

Oh, well. Isn't that lovely, Asch-san? It seems he finally remembered your name.

Asch: Whaddya mean "lovely"? It's not like I wanted him to remember.

There's no way I'll forgive anyone who gives me an attitude. Just rememberin' my name won't get him off the hook.

You've always been a rude little shit, pay your elders some respect, why don'tcha? I'll have you make it all up to me right now—

Bianchi: Dearie, but if we're talking about age, I'm older than you, you know?

Asch: Huh…

Bianchi: Does that mean you'll be a sweetie and respect me? Asch-chan ♡

Asch: … Nnrgh—!

I thought I told ya I wouldn't let ya off lightly if you called me that, didn't I?

Jude: Just try doing something to Bianchi. Then let's see what kind of trouble you end up in.

Bianchi: Just stay quiet, you. You always make things so complicated—

Hm? What was that sound?

Asch: … Tch, I gotta head to the meeting.

You live, for now. I won't forget about this, though, so ya better not think I'll let this slide next time.

Bianchi: Taking the time to remember such a silly little conversation… Asch-chan can be so sincere at times.

Jude: I wouldn't mind if he forgot.

Bianchi: Oh?
 

Gray: …!

Bianchi: You're still here? You… weren't watching us the whole time from behind that pillar, were you?

Gray: Aaaahhh… Um, well… I-I-I'm sorry…

I was actually being chased by A……sch… so I was going to hang around here until he left…

Bianchi: I see… Does that mean he's your mentor? It's a shame you got stuck with such a bully…

Gray: Well, it's now anything new… He's been like that… since the Academy…

Bianchi: Since the Academy?

Gray: E-Excuse me… I failed at the tryouts, so…

Bianchi: Is that so? So if you were in the same class as Asch-san… that means you already knew about Gray-chan, right, Jude?

Jude: I already said I had no clue.

Gray: Uu… it's only natural you'd forget… about someone like me…

You left… a really strong impression on me, though…

Jude: What do you mean?

Gray: Even when A…sch and his followers started bothering you, you always stood up to him like you weren't fazed at all…

You had no problem asking who he was straight to his face… I'll never forget the look on Asch's face when you did that…

Jude: I stood up to him? I don't remember doing that.

Gray: Huh…?

Jude: I don't remember much from when I first enrolled in the Academy to begin with. My life began when I returned later and met Bianchi, after all.

Gray: B-But… you became something of a legend in those days, Jude-san…

You didn't hang out with anyone, and you didn't try to be friendly either… You were the sole exception to the harsh school caste that had been built up…

Some people even started calling you the "Outsider"...

Bianchi: Pfft…

Jude: Bianchi?

Bianchi: Oh, dearie me… that wasn't a very elegant laugh, was it?

I don't really care to learn more about Jude's past, so I'll be on my way, now.

Jude: Wait for me. I'll go with you!

Bianchi: I thought I told you to not follow me—
 

Gray: The legendary Outsider… He's still so cool and collected…
 

───

1. In the event Thrilling Action Starts With HERO, which is implied to come after this story, Gray asks him about Asch, and Jude has no idea who he's talking about. ↑

Story Masterlist