Chapter 2: The New Kid
After Winter Break, Kira went back to his high school, Heliopolis High. As soon as he got off the bus, he was greeted by his team mates from the ZAFT Student Cadets, including his good friends, Athrun, Shinn, and Rey.
"Yo, man, how's it going?" Athrun gave him a hug.
"Hey, Athrun, wassup!" Kira said. "Hey, guys, happy New Year!"
"Yeah, it's gonna be a happy Wildcat New Year, man!" Athrun exclaimed. "Because, in two weeks we're going to the championships, with you leading us to infinity and beyond!" With that, Athrun handed him the keys to the Freedom.
"What team?" Shinn yelled.
"Wildcats!" the other cadets echoed.
The cadets cheered as they entered the school. As they entered the building, Fllay Allster, along with Sai Argyle, her boyfriend brushed past them. The ZAFT cadets shivered as though they were frozen.
"The ice princess has returned from the north pole!" Shinn joked.
"You know, she probably spends the holidays like she usually does!" Athrun said.
"What?" Rey asked on behalf of the whole team.
"Shopping for mirrors!" Athrun replied.
The cadets roared with laughter and continued. Meanwhile, the genetics experiments team, led by Cagalli Yula Athha, was watching them from behind a pillar.
"Behold the zoo animals heralding the New Year," Cagalli mocked. "How tribal!"
Then, the bell rang and everyone hurried to class.
"Mom, my stomach…" Lacus began.
"Is always nervous on the first day of the new school." Her mother finished for her. "You're too worried. You always are. And I made my company promise that they can't move me until you graduate.
"I've reviewed your impressive records!" Principal Durandal said. "I'm sure your life will shine very brightly here at Heliopolis High!"
"I don't want to be the school's freaky genius girl again!" Lacus said.
Her mother kissed her forehead and said, "You'll just be Lacus!"
Principal Durandal took Lacus to her classroom. However, Lacus kept looking back at her mother.
In the class, the cadets huddled to one side and talked about their holidays. Just then, Lacus entered the class. She spotted Kira and walked over to him.
However, Fllay walked over and flashed a smile at Kira. "Hi, Kira!"
Kira tried his best to smile back.
Then, the bell rang to signify the start of classes. The homeroom teacher, Miss Natarle Badgiruel, stood up and said, "I trust you all had splendid holidays! Check the sign up sheets in the lobby for new activities, Mr Yamato, especially our winter musical! We have singles auditions for our supporting roles and pairs auditions for our two leads!"
Athrun signified to Shinn that Natarle was nuts.
"Mr Zala, this is a place of learning, not a game arcade!" Natarle scolded Athrun for putting his toy gun from cadet practice on his table.
"There are also sign up sheets for the genetic experiment showcase!" Miss Badgiruel pointed to Cagalli, who raised her hand. "Chemistry club president Cagalli Yula Athha can answer all your questions about that!"
Kira spotted Lacus at the back of the class. He dialled her number and unexpectedly, Lacus didn't put her phone to silent mode, so it rang.
"Ah, the cell phone menace has returned to our haven of learning!" Natarle walked over to Fllay and Sai, who were checking their phones. "Fllay and Sai, cell phones and I will see you in detention!" She lifted a bucket as Fllay and Sai deposited their cell phones reluctantly.
"We have zero tolerance for cell phones in class, so we will get to see each other in detention!" Natarle walked over to Lacus. "Cell phone!" Lacus did as she was told. "And welcome to Heliopolis High, Miss Clyne!"
Kira tried to hide away his phone, but he was not fast enough.
"Mr Yamato, I see your phone is involved, so we will see each other in detention as well!" Natarle said and confiscated Kira's phone.
"That's impossible, Miss Badgiruel, your honour." Athrun tried to reason with Natarle. "We have Gundam combat practice, and Kira…"
"Ah, that will be fifteen minutes for you too, Mr Zala!" Natarle said, not satisfied. "Count it!"
"There's a chance that he can't count that high!" Cagalli whispered to her team and glared at Athrun.
"Cagalli Yula Athha! Fifteen minutes!" Natarle shouted, slamming the bucket full of cell phones on the table in front of her. "Holidays are over, people, way over!"
She looked at the silent class and said, "Any more comments, questions?"
Rey raised his hand.
"Rey?" Natarle asked.
"So how were your holidays, Miss Badgiruel?" Rey asked.
The whole class groaned, leaving Rey confused. Then, the bell rang for recess and the class poured out of the room.
"See you in detention…" Athrun said to Kira and walked away.
Then, Kira dwandled outside the classroom until Lacus came out.
"Hey!" Kira said, catching Lacus by the arm. "I don't…"
"…believe it!" Lacus said.
"Me…" Kira started.
"…either!" Lacus finished.
"But how?" Kira asked.
"My mom's company transferred her here to Onogoro!" Lacus explained. "I can't believe you live here! I looked for you at the room you stayed in at the lodge!"
"I went looking for you too!" Kira whispered.
"Why are you whispering?" Lacus asked.
"Oh, my friends know about the snowboarding." Kira said. "I haven't quite told them about the singing!"
"Too much for them to handle?" Lacus asked.
"No, it's cool!" Kira replied. "But you know…"
Lacus walked up ahead. Kira only realised that a few moments later. He ran to catch up to her.
"So anyways, welcome to Heliopolis High!" Kira said as they entered the lobby. He noticed the sign up sheet for the winter musical. He pointed to it and said sarcastically, "Now that you've met Miss Badgiruel, I bet you just can't wait to sign up for that!"
"I won't be signing up for anything for a while." Lacus laughed. "But if you sign up, I might consider going to the show!"
"Yeah!" Kira laughed. "That's completely impossible!"
Fllay popped up behind the pillar and asked, "What's impossible, Kira? I didn't think 'impossible' was even in your vocabulary!" She looked at Lacus and smiled. "So nice of you to show a new classmate around!"
Fllay turned around and signed her name on the sign up sheet. Her signature was a combination of stars and letters.
"Oh, were you going to sign up too?" Fllay turned around and asked. "My boyfriend and I have starred in all the school's productions and we welcome newcomers. There are always supporting roles in the show! I'm sure you will find a spot for yourself!"
"No, I was just looking!" Lacus replied. "I need to catch up on the curriculum here before I sign up for anything!"
Lacus turned to leave. "Wow, nice penmanship!" she said and smiled at Fllay.
"So, Kira, I missed you during vacation! What did you do?" Fllay asked after Lacus left.
"You know, Gundam, snowboarding, more Gundam…" Kira replied.
"When's the big game?" Fllay asked.
"Two weeks!" replied Kira.
"You are so dedicated, just like me!" Fllay smiled. "I hope you come watch me in the musical, promise?"
Kira nodded.
"Toodles!" Fllay said.
Kira tried to imitate her. "Toodles!"
To be continued