"Calm before the Storm."
The first time Amuro woke up to this world, he was disappointed.
Disappointed to himself.
Disappointed that he failed everyone.
Disappointed in not living his life.
Disappointed of what he have missed.
He missed almost half his life.
Due to war, due to responsibility, due to fear and uncertainty, due to corruption, due to conflict.
Due to his actions.
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"Are they your parents, Amuro-san." Amuro's roommate asked as he placed the family photo he brought on his small cabinet.
The first day of IS academy have already passed and it was... interesting.
For a military school that disguises itself as a normal one (he won't be fooled), it's students are rather lax. Even if it's full of girls, he would never thought he would be swarmed by with his fellow male classmate.
It's actually quite disturbing to be honest.
All this innocent girls being thought how to pilot a machine meant for war to act so...
He has no words for it.
Fortunately and unfortunately for his current roommate, almost all girls in their year level are attracted to Ichika Orimura. Granted, he is much more handsome than Amuro that he would admit but the boy is also the little brother of the famous Brunhilde, Chifuyu Orimura who won the the first Mondo Grosso Tournament and placed Second at the next one.
The boy is already a celebrity.
In contrast, Amuro was left alone. It maybe because he was cold or unapproachable because of his foreign looks (even though there are already foreigners in the academy), none dared to approach him. The girls satisfied themselves with curious glances and stares.
Much more preferable than what the younger Orimura has experienced.
"Yes, that's them." Amuro replied to Ichika, who is unpacking his luggage.
Currently, the pair are unpacking their stuff after finally finding their room. Being the sole boys in the academy, they are now roommates.
Glancing at his roommate, Amuro can see a deep longing and melancholy in Orimura's eyes.
If he remembers, both Orimura's are orphans where the older one practically raised themselves both based on past articles.
"So how's your studies?" Amuro asked, trying to divert the topic.
"Oh that?" Ichika grimaced, looking at the thick IS academy book.
"How can I even study that thing? Have you seen how thick it was? I don't even understand a single thing in it?!"
Amuro deadpanned at the guy currently breaking down in shambles.
He can't blame him though. The materials in the book is far too specialized for IS pilots and girls. For someone with zero background to IS, even though his the little brother of the Brunhilde, his still a boy.
IS curriculum is something he is even unaware of even if he was given a week headstart on the subject.
Case on point today, Instructor Orimura is merciless in grinding her brother with questions on the mechanics of an IS. Of course, Ichika is still clueless. The boy wasn't expecting to be an IS pilot and a week of study cannot make up years of materials on the subject.
Compared to the girls in here, who probably studied and trained for years to be in here, both of them are far behind in.
Fortunately, Amuro already have minor grasp on the material. Unfortunately for Ichika, he can't help him.
He's already struggling, no need to burden himself with this one.
"What about asking for help to your friend? Shinonono?"
"Houki? I don't know." Ichika thought.
Amuro doesn't blame him for his hesitation. It was a big surprise for him to be in the same class as the younger sister of the infamous Shinonono Tachibana.
Her personality was...
Amuro silently prayed for Ichika. Shinonono Houki are the kind of women that he find troublesome. Hot tempered, passionate and rather violent. He haven't met someone like her before and he was glad for it.
As for Ichika, the poor fool.
"Better think about it cause I can't help you at all. Got my own studies too." Amuro said, making the other male sigh in defeat.
He was hoping to have some help but it looks like he has to ask Houki for help. It wasn't bad at all but...
When did Houki became so violent? Maybe he'll find out soon.
After unpacking their luggage, fatigue finally kicked in after a day's hard work.
Sleep took them soon after.
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"Mr. Orimura, please explain the PIC system."
"Uuuuhmm...sorry?"
"...Just read the damned page." Chifuyu Orimura sighs at her brother's lack of answer.
"Ichika...your hopeless." Houki muttered beside him, making the boy flinch.
It's not his fault, alright! Studying and Learning everything about IS is hard. He was like a fish told to walk on land once he grew legs but didn't know how to even use them.
He silently cried.
Meanwhile, his other male companion is faring much better in the environment.
If Ichika is struggling, Amuro is thriving with curiosity and questions. He was called multiple times by the older Orimura and have done his best to answer each question, even giving his own thoughts and questions, creating a curios back and forth between student and instructor between the two.
Unlike yesterday, the girl's view and stance to Amuro dramatically changed by this behavior. How can they be not surprised when the so called bad boy in their minds is actually an intellectual and inquisitive mind.
It actually added some charm to him and gathered some brownie points among the female students.
Until...
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Soon, the school bell rang, signifying the end of the class and the end of Ichika's torture.
"Alright, bell already rang but before that, we need to elect a class representative." Chifuyu said, stopping Ichika's thoughts of a wonderful break.
Chaos soon followed.
The Class Representative position is a prestigious position, especially for all these girls who came from all girls schools, private schools or homeschooled. The position is a sign of power and status for this women.
Of course many would try to take the position but...
This class is different. It's because they two unique students.
Ichika Orimura, younger brother of the Brynhildr, and Amuro Ray, who they are thinking to be some kind of prodigy. They are the two male IS students in the world, making them far Unique than normal men.
As such, if one of them represents the class, would that meant great gain as a class?
"I nominate Ichika-kun!"
"Ichika-kun can be the Representative!"
"Fool! Amuro-san is far more reliable!"
"Amuro-san as Representative!"
"Huh?! Ichika-kun is far more cuter than Amuro-san!"
"Why would you settle for cute when you have a man right here!"
It was chaos galore as the class was split in two. Ichika-kun fanclub and Amuro appreciation club.
As for the two boys?
Ichika looked bashful at the thrown praises at him, rubbing his head shyly and chuckling to himself. Right beside him, Houki looked at him with unshackled hostility, the boy himself unaware of the danger beside him.
Meanwhile, Amuro is currently thinking of the life choices that he made. Which one did he took a wrong path to be thrown in this place? He knew girls could be girls but this?
Wasn't this supposed to be a military school or something?
He might have made a mistake in accepting the position and coming here.
"I will not accept this."
Suddenly, the chaos was cut by sharp yet aristocratic voice amidst the class.
"I will not accept that a bunch of monkeys will become our class representatives."
Minus the insult, Amuro approves.
Finally some sense in this class.