Usopp peered out from the bushes that he had leapt behind to escape from the boys from his class. Well, it was more for their sake he'd hidden of course but still. He puffed up his chest and stood up, mentally congratulating himself for his compassion. He was dusting himself off when they came around the corner of the building suddenly and spotted him at once.

  "There you are," Kuro said, and Usopp gulped the menacing look in his eyes, "We just want to see your oh-so-amazing powers." Usopp started backing away, preparing to run, but his path to the sides was blocked by Buchi and Sham as Jango and Kuro blocked the front. He was cornered against the cold, brick wall.

" I t-t-told you. As the great Usopp, I cannot causally use my powers. I'd hurt you for sure!" Usopp looked frantically for a way out, but there was no hope for escape. He reached towards his belt slowly, hoping they wouldn’t notice the movement.

“But how best for you to show us?” Kuro tilted his head in feigned thought. “What do you think Jango?”

“Hypnotize us?” Jango suggested.

“You idiot!” Kuro snapped, adjusting his glasses, “That’s your power, not his!”

“That’d be impressive though since it isn’t his.” Jango smiled, and Buchi and Sham nodded eagerly, turning to look at Kuro. Usopp edged towards the gap between Jango and Siam, sensing an opening.

Kuro sighed, and Usopp felt himself roughly shoved back to the wall. “You’re all idiots. Since his power is telekinesis, and he said he can juggle whales the size of islands with ease, he should be able to fly, right?” Usopp swallowed nervously, looking at the ground. He needed to bluff his way out of this: maybe he could get them to leave him alone.

“O-o-o-oh, fly?” Usopp waved a shaking hand in dismissal, trying to straighten as much as possible. “Please, I’ve been able to do that since before I could walk-  which I learned when I was only three days old, you know, because walking is no task for the mighty Us-”

“Good. Let’s go test that from the Tower.” Usopp’s eyes widened, and the inside of his mouth grew dry.

“The T-t-tower? Y-you mean the f-f-f-fitf-fty st-t-tory tall Tower?” Usopp scoffed weakly.”That’s not a challenge for the great Usopp! I warn you though, the last time I flew, the entire city beneath me was crushed by the weight of my power.” Usopp shook his head sadly. “It was an accident of course, but a tragedy nonetheless. I was barely able to restrain my awesome might enough to rescue the children of the city (for it was a land of only children, an eternal land of no bedtimes and all the sweets one could eat) from my awesome power.”

Just as Usopp was really getting into the hand gestures, he was roughly shoved by Kuro, who started herding them all towards the place where Usopp was going to die. This was seriously not good.

“Please, think of our classmates, helpless before my might. The whole school will crumble before me just to satisfy your curiosity. Is that what you want, Kuro? To be the reason the only school to help develop the powers of the mind toppled?”

“I think we’ll take our chances, right boys?” Jango nodded at Kuro’s question at once, but Buchi and SIam hesitated a bit. Before Usopp could act on their hesitation, they nodded too, and he cursed to himself. He was too young to die like this.

“Oh, there you are Usopp!” Everyone spun around to see Kaya headed towards them at a fast pace, and Usopp’s heart lifted with hope. She said his name. Wait, no, maybe she could help him out of this situation. Not that the magnificent Usopp needed rescuing, but he was humble enough to let a lady try. Kaya shot a glance at him, eyes dancing, and Usopp felt himself blush. “Merry fell in a hole again while he was grazing. Do you think you could help me?”

“Of cour-”

“I’m sorry Kaya, but he has business with us. No one cares about he stupid school mascot anyway. Who wants to be a sheep? Usopp here is going to prove to us how well he could fly, “ Kuro smirked, glancing smugly at Usopp. Usopp fought hard not to just curl up on the ground. Death was inevitable for him now; he should just accept his fate gracefully.

Kaya’s eyes widened dramatically. “But the school! After you destroyed that kingdom of children, you’d still play around and show off like that! Shame on you, Usopp.” Usopp’s jaw dropped, and he fought to regain his cool demeanor before anyone noticed. She reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him away from them. They had all frozen in place at her words, and no one made any protest as Usopp made his escape.”You’re coming with me to get the poor sheep out. The poor thing could be hurt.”

Usopp bonelessly let himself be tugged away, grinning a little when he heard Kuro and the others begin to whisper heatedly.

“It has to be a lie. Everything he says is a lie!” Kuro muttered.

“But Kuro, she’s the best mind reader on campus- everyone knows that,” Jango said.

“I refuse to believe such absolut-”

“Please, let’s just leave him alone!” Buchi said, and Usopp caught a glimpse of everyone except for Kuro nodding before they rounded the bend, and he could no longer see them.

“Thank you for making them believe it.” Usopp looked away from Kaya nervously. Why would she do that for him? He was a nobody, not good for anything.

“I did it because I like you. And you’re good for lots of things. For one rescuing Merry, but  you can be so much more than that. I know it.” Usopp’s eyes widened, and then he grinned feeling as though his face would break in two.

“Of course I am! Would you like to hear the story about how I once rescued a beautiful princess from the dreadful ogres?”