Ainako: Honestly, I almost gave up to finish this. Not enough time, and when I do have the time, brain don't work. But we'll see.


Three months passed by without me noticing the changing of the seasons – partly due to our discouragement to step out of the safety of the headquarter, while the rest is because we barely have any free time to. We were trained 7 days a week and rests only when night falls. Sometimes we trained in the dark of the night too. We have theory classes too but they were too boring. We were pushed to our limits while discovering for ourselves what we could do with our powers. I discovered that I had an ability to control mechanical things like automobiles and machinery. I realized that I might be able to control non-mechanical things too such as mannequins and dolls so I spent days trying to do just that. Gate power, as I understood, is not a stagnant ability. One can become stronger, more in control as well as widened their range of capabilities so long you have the time and motivation to do so. Added the extremely handy and portable Gate simulation device – that looked more like an outdated mobile phones – we were trained to use as main offense strategy. It took me a while to master its use, but I can safely say I am above average in the combat training.

Sayoko and her Gate of Sound was impressive too but she didn't share the same amount of aspiration to grow stronger as I did. I imagined she's scared of what she's capable of doing. She accidentally broke all glass windows and panes in training – even the shatter proof plastic barriers around her – and caused a few people to be taken to the medical room with their sense of hearing permanently damaged. Sayoko never tried to call upon her Gate again except for the weekly 'potential' tests. The rest of the class was separated like us too. One side tried so hard to better themselves while the rest showed no interest of pushing that limit. Once a week we were consulted by the medical examiners to monitor our progress and health, and once a week a few of us were taken to somewhere else. Transferred, they say, but we almost never saw them again. My class of 20 odds of people reduced to only 12 by the end of the month, and we were merged with another class to fill in the empty seats.

Another two months passed by, we were told to ride an armored bus to the woods outskirt of the city. We wore identical sports attires, tailor made to our abilities like fire proofing to those whose ability to control fire and what else. We gathered in front of Kyouya and a few other attendants as they began to brief our first field test.

"Quite a lot of time you had spent to get to this day, so now is the time to finally show us what you can do as a soldier, though be reminded this is not your final test. Today, you will be judged by the way you handle attacks, solve problems and configure as a team. Be reminded again that this is not the only test you will have to face – many more alike these will come in the future. Failure to impress might resulted in immediate expulsion and I don't have to tell you that once you were rejected from AEGIS, you are not to return any more."

Some of us whimpered worriedly but I held Sayoko's hand firmly. She was not in the mood for any talking then, probably from her nerve. I can't blame her. Kyouya, with three different colored flag poles in his hand, gestured us to separate to three groups. Each he gave one flag then with a projector, showed us the landscape of the whole training site. There's three points on the map in a shape of a triangle with its respective color of each flag that I supposed would be the groups' separated base. I patted Sayoko's arm commenting that I'm glad she's on my team but I got no respond except for a light nod.

"As you might have figured out, you are now in your own group and these are your base. Proceed to your respective base and figure out among yourselves a leader if you want and devise a strategy. Your mission is to capture the other team's flag. You can do stealth skirmish and steal them without notice, or wipe out your opponent's members then take the flag – your choice. Now, the rule is simple; no dangerous maneuvers that is life threatening. I do not want you to kill, or permanently damaged one another for whatever reason. You have approximately one hour to get to know among your team and learn each other's abilities. Teams which eliminated by another team can confiscate the flags of the fallen team. The team with the most captured flags by sunset wins. If there is no further question, you may ride these trucks to your designated base. You may start your move after you hear the sirens."

I was in the Orange team got on the truck without any question. None of us were in any mood to talk to one another during the trip. Sayoko was not talking at all too. She kept looking at her feet and clenched her fist. I thought of to ask her how she was doing, but I just patted her hand and trusts she would tell me if she needs any help or encouragement. Sayoko is not a clingy child she appeared to be. Left to my own device, I stole a glance at my other team members. No one was looking any remotely excited to what's coming up. As soon as we got to our spot, we gathered and awkwardly waiting for someone to speak first. Finally, a lanky young man named Takeshi stood and cleared his throat to get our attention. He seemed to be one who was used to lead and he spoke with an air of a lenient club leader of sort – strict, but at the same time friendly. He asked us one by one what we could do and made us choose between being on the defense or offense team.

"Are we going to divide ourselves into two? One to attack other's base and the other stay here on defense?" I asked.

"I thought that might do. Does anyone else have any to share? I'm not that good with this myself."

"There are two groups to aim. Which should we go to first?"

"What do you know about other team members? Who saw who goes into which group?"

A golden blonde boy clapped his hand and touched his forehead with a finger. The other free hand held out in front of him and a projection of image floated above it. George – as he wanted to be known as, though he is completely Japanese despite the dyed hair – had the ability to capture his sight into a recording of sort and played it again like a video player. It's limited to what he perceived to see and what he remembered, but his memory is above average and his power of observations is sharp.

We gathered closer and watched the projection closely. George must have expected something like this to happen that he took his time observing when we were separated to our groups. Takeshi whistled when he saw a long black haired girl standing among the Green group. He commented on how many strong individuals in her group and the majority of them having two Gates and at least one of them had the strongest control over an Elemental Gate. One by one, we analyze the other team members and added our ideas to counter their strength. I saw Ami in the Red team and Asami made an interesting twist to her face. As if she hadn't thought of something like this ever to happen.

"Do you know well of Ami's abilities, Asami?" I asked. She made a sound like a terrified mouse.

"Uhm… I don't know. Other than to Unify."

"Then what can you do better, now two months of training?" Takeshi asked, almost too sternly.

"I can… Multiply…"

"We know that already. What can you do better?"

"You don't have to shout, Takeshi. Give her some space." George said not too unkindly. He gave a wink and a grin to Asami. The timid girl blushed like mad. She stuttered, trying to say something but gave up after two tries and sighed.

"If we're going to split between offense and defense team, I vote to be on the offense. With Asami." I got a few stares from saying that, even from Sayoko. Asami's eyes were went so big from hearing me naming her.

"I trust you have something up your sleeves, Tajiro?" Takeshi put gently. He must have already decided to place Asami on the defense since the girl seems too frail to him. To Asami, I smiled and she nodded. We shared the same idea on how our Gate power works. I've practiced with her as well as Ami for many hours due to my previous partner Sayoko lost her enthusiasm.

"Yeah. And please, call me Erika." Sayoko gave me a tight smile when she later added she volunteered to defend the flag. I have no doubt she would do better there in her current situation. Before we went separately to our position, I made her promise to talk to me about her worries after this test is over.

Soon we heard the sirens blaring across the sparse forest. Ami and I, along with a tall dark-skinned guy named Junpei. I can't help but laugh at my good fortune. I have Asami, and now I have Junpei. Maybe this is my time to find out what I can really do with this alien power of mine.