It was just a normal day for Honoka Kousaka, 2nd year student studying at Otonokizaka High School. Well, that is, until she read the announcement on the school bulletin board.
"Our school is going to be closed down?!"
Honoka was staring at the announcement. Her two friends, Umi Sonoda and Kotori Minami, were standing with her.
"Honoka…." Umi said.
"Kotori-chan!" Honoka suddenly said, turning to her friend. "Do you know something about this?"
Kotori's mother is the school principal for Otonokizaka.
"Umm, no, sorry. My mother hasn't told me anything."
"What are we going to do now?" Honoka asked.
Umi was about to answer when Honoka passed out.
"Honoka!"
Honoka woke up in the infirmary.
"Oh, it's just a dream after all!" she said out loud.
"No, it's not."
Umi and Kotori were in the room . Kotori was seated beside the bed, while Umi was leaning against the wall.
"Ehh? What now, Umi-chan?" Honoka asked. "Will that mean I have to transfer to another school? My grades aren't that good! I'm doomed!"
"Calm down," Umi replied. "Honestly, Honoka. That's your problem, you always act without thinking. Of course the school won't close down until after all the students have graduated."
"That's right, Honoka," Kotori added. "You don't have anything to worry about."
Honoka thought about it for a while. "But that's still bad! I mean, the current first years. They won't experience having underclassmen."
"Well, when you put it that way…." Kotori said.
"But what can you do about it?" Umi asked.
"I'll think of something!" Honoka replied.
On her way home, Honoka passed by a hobby shop. She stared at the display, which showed various robots. Beside it was a TV screen that showed robots fighting.
"So these are gunpla models, huh…" Honoka said to herself.
Gunpla model kits, based on the mobile suits that appeared in the various gundam anime, have taken the world by storm after the invention of Gunpla battle, which allowed builders to pit their own gunpla against another gunpla. Although the sport died when PPSE, the company that started it, closed down, Yajima trading has acquired the company and relaunched Gunpla battle, complete with several improvements. Now even more people are playing the sport.
"Oh, young miss!" The shop owner has stepped out of his shop and noticed her.
"Interested in Gunpla model kits?" he asked.
"Well…"
"It seems not just boys are playing it, even girls are getting into the hobby as well," the shop owner said.
"Take that one for example," he said, pointing at the TV screen.
In the screen was a pre-recorded battle.
Honoka saw a gunpla flying fast in outer space. Suddenly, an enemy fired at it. The mobile suit reacted fast, transforming into a weird-looking jet that had no nosecone but instead had two guns that served as wings. Using this form, it fired it's two guns and destroyed the opponent, a red gunpla that had a gatling gun in its left hand.
Another opponent tried striking it from behind. This one was a green color, and like its comrade, was decked with gatling guns.
However it never got to attacking, as a huge blast destroyed it. The camera shifted and showed another Gunpla, a blue one this time, holding a huge cannon.
Finally another opponent appeared. This one had gatling guns on both arms and started firing indiscriminately. It's target, a blue, red, and white gunpla, skillfully dodged and fired a shot from it's rifle, destroying it.
The scene changed to show the winners.
Honoka was surprised. "Three girls?"
"That's right," the shop owner answered. "That's team A-Rise, from UTX Academy. The match you saw was taken from last year's tournament. They're a very talented team, and they're favorite for this year's tournament as well."
"A tournament?"
"You really are new to this, huh? A regional tournament is going to be held soon. A lot of schools are gonna be entering. Is your school entering the tournament, miss?"
"No, I don't think so… but you've given me an idea. Thanks, sir!"
The shop owner watched, bewildered, as the young girl left the shop. "What was that about?"
Inside the shop, behind the counter, a girl with violet hair smiled. "Things are about to get interesting…."
AUTHOR'S NOTES
I have an unhealthy habit of mixing Gundam with other shows that I love. This is the result…
The Gunpla A-Rise are using in the video are Gundam Age-2 Double Bullet, Age-3 Normal, and Age-1 Normal. Their opponents are Gundam Heavyarms, Gundam Leopard, and Gundam Heavyarms EW.