Chapter 1: Welcome to EPIC Academy (Code Geass w/Ouran, Evangelion, Bleach, Macross Frontier, HSD Kenichi, Durarara!, Azumanga Daioh, FruitsBasket)
Well, not much can be said for my current education. If I did start talking, it would be a lot more than 'much' so saying nothing is easier. But where would that leave us? In that case, the simplest way to put it is this. Several entities decided to experiment with a new form of education: maximizing inter-cultural relationships between students by cramming as many of them into one school as possible. As a result, I am currently attending Experimental Population Inter-Cultural Academy, or EPIC as most students call it. I do not understand why Lord Ashford, L, the famous super sleuth, the Nebula Corporation, NERV, an R&D program, the Suoh Trust, Shibusen, a defense organization, Kaien Cross and BABEL, another defense organization, all thought this was a good idea and put up the money for students to attend a first-rate academy tuition-free, but as long as free rides are in the cards, count me in. Though, I did not expect what kind of a ride a free one would be.
First day of classes was unexpected… well more than unexpected. It was downright fatal! well… nearly fatal otherwise I wouldn't be telling this story. Wait… I am getting ahead of myself. If I were to start at the beginning, it would be impossible to follow my narrative. Indeed, it is almost incomprehensible that I was able to follow it all, regardless of staying alive during the process. Let me instead begin in the now and introduce you to those I run into in the course of today. But before I do that, I have to tell you a bit more about EPIC. EPIC was launched to incorporate both High School and Middle Schools into the same path of learning, as well as College Seminar Courses. How they manage to make it work, I have no idea, but suffice to say, the student body is large; large enough to support student councils at all grade levels. This leads to some very interesting conflicts when it comes to student events.
But I was telling you about my regular day, wasn't I? I wake at around 6:15am and by 6:50am I am in my first class. Oh right, I forgot to tell you: many students live in on-campus dormitories, equipped with cafeterias and any other home comforts we could possibly need. Some students commute but only those that come from a reasonable distance. But on to my first class of the day: Music Seminar. I say music seminar because it is the only way to describe the training we get. Most days only a devoted few come. It is these few I will meet and greet before we actually begin our individual, diligent practice. The first is a tall, blonde, high school character by the name of Tamaki Suoh. He is, by all attributes, the perfect prince except for his flamboyant personality. He is a bit lacking in reserve, to say the least, but his piano playing is divine. Contrasted to him is the quiet, anti-social, middle school kid, Shinji Ikari. He plays cello and prefers to be left alone in his own study. Occasionally he will talk to me if Tamaki is occupied but for the most part, he remains in his solitary practice room. I cannot say I blame him, since he did divulge to me that he suffers the hazards of fighting the invading Angels as an Evangelion pilot. To bear the fate of the world on your shoulders is a terrifying thing, though I cannot imagine it.
I am glad it is one of these days, where I can just pull out my trombone, sit down in a practice room and get to work. Certainly I miss large ensemble playing, but when most students who take this class are only interested in the guest performers, I appreciate being in quiet space. Now this doesn't mean I do not enjoy listening to Sheryl Nome or Misa Amane, two of our idols on campus, but I like the classical expression without the costumes, flashing lights or screaming fans. I sigh with contentment after finishing a peaceful etude when I hear a knock on the practice room door. Opening it, green-haired, shy, Ranka Lee steps in and closes the door and asks me to listen to her song. Ranka has equal talent to Sheryl and Misa but just doesn't quite have the confidence to take the step to the stage. Personally, I wish she would, since I love the songs that she sings. And yes, I said green hair. She's a quarter Zentradi. Roll with it.
After her song and commenting on how much I liked it, I hear a strange kind of jazz piano playing in the background. I step out of my room with Ranka behind me and it's Soul. He's a middle school student here and drops in occasionally. He is the true prodigy of us all but it seems that he carries his musical talent like a burden rather than letting it carry him like wings. I wonder if it has anything to do with his family, the famous Evans'. The strange melody is interrupted by a spinning top of composition. Hibiki Kugenin is that free spirit of composition though there is more to him than just this. Trust me. I generally keep my distance from him because of his eccentricities but occasionally he comes back down to earth. In those cases, I learn the most about music theory and history. Oh yeah, I almost forgot about Yasutora Sado, a high schooler of Mexican and Japanese descent, who plays guitar occasionally. He is definitely the strong and silent type, being 2 meters tall, with dark hair that hangs in his eyes.
The class comes to an end, and I go to my homeroom class. I am a third-year student in high school, which means a lot of stairs from the basement where the practice rooms are located. However, this also means I meet many people on my way, or rather, I see many groups of students along the way. Construction of the school is a bit eccentric. There are six floors, a main building with two flanking wings. The east wing is dedicated to the humanities and languages while the west wing is devoted to the sciences and mathematics. The central building is administration, council rooms and the like. The Music building is a gigantic concert hall with outdoor capability for rock concerts. Below ground are all the practice rooms as well as the few classrooms. The athletic fields lay beyond, but we will get there later.
Walking across the lawn one day out of five is hazardous to life and limb. Today, it appears, is that one day. It only takes two people to endanger so many: Izaya Orihara and Shizuo Heiwajima. They don't even go here but it seems that every Thursday, blonde Shizuo chases black-haired Izaya to the campus and all manner of mayhem breaks out. I do not know how many heavy kitchen appliances, road signs, mail boxes, fire hydrants, etc, I have seen littered on the ground, yet hardly anyone gets hurt and it is always gone by my third class. Why they continue their crazy feud, I do not know but I am just glad that Simon Brezhnev, a sushi restaurant employee of Russian African descent (figure that one out), was able to intervene and save my head a couple times. Despite this insanity on Thursday, I get across the lawn after dodging an advertisement sign, and exchange a few words with those who understand the problem on a better level: Mikado Ryuugamine, Kida Masaomi and Anri Sonohara. They understand my plight and congratulate me on my every Thursday survival and Kida generally calls Simon if it is getting out of hand. Rather, Kida is the one who congratulates me, Mikado is the one who asks if I am alright and Anri is the one who breathes the sigh of relief. As you can tell, Kida is the dominant personality and major talker of the group but Mikado and Anri are good listeners and balance the group well. I enjoy their company but I must leave eventually, since they are only first years in high school, like the group in pink uniforms that I am now passing: several girls, one much shorter than the rest with red hair and pig tails but they come into my day a bit later.
I begin climbing, expecting at any moment to have the weekly staircase accident. Yes, it happens on a weekly basis like the Shizuo-Izaya brawls, though the day is not set in stone. It just happens and today felt like a falling day. My expectations are not disappointed. This time it is a girl with brown, shoulder-length hair who fell into me on the second step and knocked me backward to the landing. "Honda-san, are you alright?" "Tohru!" Tohru Honda was helped to her feet by a boy with platinum blonde hair and purple eyes. Again, roll with it. Yuki Sohma, one of the class presidents for the 2nd year high school students and Tohru Honda, a close friend of his, I remembered. I pushed myself up from my feet, seeing that her friends were preoccupied. "Are you hurt anywhere Tohru-chan?" "No, I am fine, Uo, Saki." Ah yes, Uotani Arisa, the 'waves' girl, and Saki Hanajima, the yankee. "Um, Hanashimoto-kun?" I turn back and stare at the blushing face. "Thank you very much for catching me," Tohru said, bowing. Smiling, I reply, "Don't worry about it. It happens to me all the time." This confuses them all and as I walk away, I hear Uotani say, "He gives off some strange waves." I haven't even been to home period yet. This is only the beginning of the adventures.