The New Student

I.S. Academy Year Two

By Warrior Seadra

Looking back, I don't really like how this story was written. So I'm fixing it up. Enjoy :)

Hey everyone, some of you may have read "The American Transfer Student" before reading this. I just want you to know that that chapter takes place many many chapters after this one. When I wrote that, it was on a whim to see if I could and now I want to get the whole story out. This will answer many of the questions and provide much of the missing background information needed to understand "The American Transfer Student." So if you're curious to know, or haven't read it and wish to know what I'm talking about, then please, enjoy the story. Thank you.

The New Student

"Class, I'm happy to announce the arrival of a transfer student." Yamada-Sensei announces. "Please welcome Junius-san. Now, Junius-san, would you introduce yourself to us?"

"Hello everyone!" The new female joyfully begins, "My full name is Adriana Junius, but please just call me Adriana. I'm looking forward to working with all of you this year."

'Ichika Orimura.' Adriana notes the only male in the academy. 'Other than the absent Chifuyu Orimura and Maya Yamada, only Laura, Houki, and Lingyin present themselves as the obstacles in this class.'

'Laura Bodewig, silver hair with an eye patch over the left eye. She is Germany's representative candidate and pilot of the Schwarzer Regen.' Adriana recalls information regarding the three as she takes note of them. 'Houki Shinonono, younger sister of Tabane Shinonono, currently under governmental protection, is not a representative candidate, but pilots the Akatsubaki. Lingyin Huang, goes by the name Rin, has fang like teeth, is the Chinese representative candidate and pilot of the Shenglong.'

"We've arranged for you to share the target's classroom." A memory stirs within Adriana's mind."Use the opportunity to get close to him, his fellow I.S. holders, and his classmates. After observing for the past year, we have gathered enough information to begin our operation. You will receive further orders Sunday at 2000 hours."

"Now Adriana-san, why don't you take the empty seat there by the window?"

"Yes, Sensei," Adriana happily replies.

Upon Orimura-sensei's arrival. She gives a quick introduction of herself and immediately begins teaching her first lesson of the day.

'Former Japanese Representative and former champion of the Mondo Grosso. Is the targets older sister and is familiar with Tabane Shinonono. Little known about the stratos she pilots. Currently is a teacher at the I.S. Academy and is the biggest danger to the mission.'

As the morning lessons end lunch arrives.

Casually, Adriana rises from her seat and approaches Ichika. She slips past the various girls and slings her arms around Ichika's. The small act infuriates Laura, Houki, and Rin.

With a large smile, Adriana ignores the glares and the gasps of her fellow students, and says, "You're Orimura Ichika-san, no? Since I'm new here, do you mind showing me around the school?"

"Ye-yeah, no problem." Ichika brings himself to reply.

"Really? That's great!" Adriana grins, "Then, can you start by showing me the way to the cafeteria?"

"Ichika," Rin cuts in, "You don't need to worry, I'll take care of showing Adriana around the school."

"That's right," Houki continued, "It would be better if we show her around."

"We-well..." Ichika struggles for words. The steadily rising anger of his three friends and a girl around his arm prove too much for the young man.

"Oh no, I think Ichika's the best qualified for this task. He seems very trust worthy and dependable." Adrian replies with joyfully replies.

'My objective now is to Ichika. The rest of you will be later.' Adriana tells herself.

Adriana pulls Ichika's arm saying with a giggle, "So come on, let's go to lunch already."

…..

"Adriana, here we have Cecilia, Charlotte, and Ran." Ichika introduces Adriana, "Everyone, Adriana just transferred today."

"Please, treat me well." Adriana bows greeting the girls.

""Please, treat me well"" The two girls reciprocate Adriana's actions.

'Cecilia Alcott, no particular features or history, English representative candidate, pilot of the Blue Tears. Charlotte Dunois, daughter of current owner of the Dunois Corporation, French representative candidate, pilot of Raphael Revive Custom II, a customized stratos.' Adrian mentally notes the new girls. 'Ran Gotanda, no particular features of history, does not possess a stratos, posses a small threat.'

"Tell us Adriana, where are you from?" Ichika asks.

"I'm from the South American country of Argentina. While we don't have a single stratos, my superiors believe my attendance here would aid in the development of one."

"Then, what are your goals for attending this school? It cannot be to increase your proficiency in piloting an I.S." Laura asks.

"That's right, Laura-san." Adriana replies giggling, "That is your name correct?"

Laura nods bringing an even larger smile to Adriana's face as she continues, "While become an excellent pilot isn't my goal, I need to increase my understanding of a stratos to test possible stratos that my country may develop in the future. Further, I need to learn how stratos are developed, maintained, and various other functions to aid in development. My main focus is stratos maintenance over actual piloting."

Adriana nonchalantly sighs saying, "It's a shame though, I really do wish to pilot a statos with the skill all of you will be."

…..

The group quickly finishes eating and return to their classrooms.

Along the way, Adriana starts a conversation with great excitement. "Say, Houki-san, are you really a strong kenshi? That's so awesome, being able to use swords so well that it becomes the defining weapon of your stratos. I can only imagine how much you had to train. In the statos weaponry I design, I'd like to put a sword in too. Would you mind giving me some advice on how the sword should be made and maybe even test them out for me?"

"Oh please," Rin interjects. "I'm a much better fighter then her."

"With your barbaric weaponry?" Cecilia cuts in. "Adriana, if you need any help making a rifle, just ask me. I, Cecilia Alcott, am quite familiar with the working of one."

"Really!" Adriana awes, "That's so cool."

…..

"This bath is huge!" Adriana gaps entering the bathing area.

"This is your first time in a public bath, right Adriana?" Charlotte asks the awestruck girl.

"Yeah, and it's amazing!"

"Stop." Laura commands. "There are procedures that need to be followed before entering the water."

"Really?" Adriana tilts he head rejoining the two. "What?"

"You have to wash yourself first." Laura replies

Confusion wells on Adriana's face. "I have clean myself so I can take a bath?"

Charlotte giggles, "It isn't that kind of bath. These osen, hot springs, are so your body can soak up minerals and relax, not so you can actually clean yourself."

"Ohhhhh." Adriana nods in understanding.

"Come on," Charlotte takes Adriana's hand. "I'll wash you back."

…..

"Come on, it's this way, this way!" Rin calls to Adriana leading her across the campus.

"Are you really sure?" Adriana calls back.

"Yeah, it'll be fine."

"Don't worry," Houki reassures Adriana. "There is no way she'd ever miss dinner, so we'll be fine."

"Oh, good." Adriana sighs in relief.

"Come on! What are ya waiting for?" Rin calls back to the two.

"Sorry!" Adriana responds with a laugh rushing to close the gap.

"Well, we're here." Rin proudly declares. "This is the short cut from our dorms to the training hall."

"I'm grateful you showed me this Rin-san," Adriana scratches her cheek. "but I don't think I'll be spending that much time here outside of class."

Confusion fills Rin's face which is quickly has realization follow.

"Oh, that's right!" Rin declares, "You don't have an I.S., sorry."

"That's ok, I'm glad you cared to show me." Adriana responds with a smile.

"Hehe, I feel silly now." Rin giggles.

"E-hem," Houki interrupts, "If we don't hurry, we'll be late to lunch."

"No need to worry!" Rin declares. "I know a short cut. This way!"

Whenever Ichika has his student council duties, Adriana slowly improves her relationship with his friends. By the end of the week, the group sees Adriana as a friend more so than a love rival.

"Ichika!" Adriana calls no longer adding any honorifics to his name.

"Oh, hey Adriana." Ichika replies.

"Did you hear, they're showing a new movie about cowboys and aliens in town tonight."

"Wait." Ichika is taken aback. "How does something like that even work?"

"I have no idea, but it sounds so cool. We have to watch it."

"Yeah, I'm curious now."

"Hey," Adriana says turning to the other girls, "You're coming too, right? It'll be much more fun with everyone."

"Of course." "Yes." "Yeah." "Wouldn't miss it." "Sounds exciting." "What time?" the girls respond in turn.

"Great, let's meet here in at six." Adriana creates a meeting while bouncing with joy and excitement.

'She's not even trying...' is the thought that runs threw each girls mind. 'Not a rival.'

…..

Sunday afternoon and the group sits on a roof top for a lunch picnic.

"Was that your first time piloting an I.S.?" Cecilia asks Adriana.

"Yeah, I was so nervous. I hope the next time goes better."

"You did really well for your first time." Charlotte responds, "Those turns were great, you just need to work on your breaking."

"That's right," Rin continues, "Just visualize yourself slowing down and stopping."

"The way you guys say it, it sounds really easy." Adriana responds down-heartedly. "This must be the difference between candidate representatives and common students like me..."

"Nonsense, you just need more practice." Laura states.

"Besides, at least you didn't make a crater like this guy." Houki reminds states.

"Did you have to bring that up?" Ichika asks in annoyance.

"What crater?" asks Ran curiously.

"Actually, I'm curious too." Adriana comments.

"This occurred shorty after Ichika received his I.S. Orimura-sensei asked the two of us to demonstrate breaking to the class by stopping a few centimeters above the ground." Cecilia explains while emphasizing the words, "the two of us." "Ichika's turn comes up and he doesn't break leaving a crater in the ground."

Everyone, but Ichika, laugh as Cecilia finishes her story.

"Well then," Adriana struggles to say gasping for air, "there's hope for me yet."

"By the way Ichika, what are you eating?" Ran asks, "It looks really good."

"Really?" Ichika asks. "It's just something I found in the Latin food section. Here, try it. Ah."

"Ahhn." Ran eagerly opens her mouth accepting the food.

The sight that follows is one Adriana will never forget. A flock of girls trying to get fed by one person.

"I-Ichika, my turn next."

"No fair, I want to try it too."

"As my bride, I demand you let me test your food."

'He's like a mother hen feeding her hungry little chick-lets...' Adriana concludes watching the scene in shock.

"-an... Adrian, hello Adriana?" Adrian hears Ichika calling her name.

"Ye-yes?" She responds in surprise.

"Adriana, don't you want some too?" Ichika asks, "Here, ah-"

"No thanks," Adriana replies putting her hands up. "I'm not that hungry."

'I lost my appetite.'

"Oh, ok..." Ichika replies. Someone turning him down is quite rare. "Well, you did serve yourself quite a bit."

"Ichika no baka." Rin angrily cries while whacking him on the head.

As the other girls start making a commotion over Ichika's comment, Adriana interjects saying, "You think so, I only serve myself as much as I need until my next meal. I don't really eat snack in between."

Ichika jumps at the chance to escape the mysterious wrath of the other girls, "Really?"

"Yeah, I'm not too found of sweets."

"Really, that very healthy."

With a smile, Adriana agrees to and Ichika responds with a smile of his own.

The other girls angrily glared at Adriana. 'Lucky... how could I have missed it...'

The day concludes happily and everyone returns to their rooms for the night.

At eight o'clock, Adriana hears her ring give a sound. Knowing her room mate would not return for at least an hour, Adriana raises her left hand to her face and speaks to the ring on her ring finger.

"This is Adriana, reporting."

"Give us the report of your current week."

"I have made contact with the target and have begun shadowing his movements and patterns as well as those of his group. As mentioned in previous report there are slight deviations from the expected group. I have adjusted to the current dynamics and am now beginning to gather information on the others. Currently, there is no change to the mission's rate of success. As mentioned before, I am still able to successfully pilot the stratos provided here. I believe all future piloting will occur without problems."

"Excellent, continue observing. Contact shall be made again Sunday at 2000 hours."

"Understood." Adriana cuts the communication

The girl showers and prepares for her classes the next day.

Done the first chapter of my story is in. The rest is still in my head waiting to be written down. I hope you enjoyed this.

The editing has been finished. Now to do the other chapters. I hope you like it. Let me know what you think in your reviews.

Ja ne