Sea of Tranquility Chapter 11: An Ordinary Class

Tokyo-3 First Municipal Junior High School, Class 2-A.

Three weeks had passed since Toji Suzuhara and his younger sister, Sakura, were nearly killed in the crossfire during the opening battle of humanity's first intergalactic war.

Thanks to the fateful intervention of the Autobot Ratchet, Sakura's injuries were quickly treated, and both siblings watched as the Evangelion Unit, and the Autobot Commander Optimus Prime teamed up to defeat the rampaging fallen Angel, Starscream.

For the next three weeks, Toji would remain at his sister's side as she successfully recovered in the hospital, much to their father's relief. Like with most students in this class, Toji and Sakura lost their mother in the chaos of Second Impact and its immediate aftermath. After the loss of his wife, Mr. Suzuhara devoted himself to his business and subsequently left Toji to hold the fort most of the time, something the boy never forgave him for. Nonetheless, the man was still human enough to visit his injured daughter.

As Toji would later find out, some of his classmates weren't as lucky.

Toji walked to his usual seat next to his old friend Kensuke Aida, whose nerdy obsession with military technology deeply contrasted with the latter's athleticism and passion for basketball. Kensuke was recording a mock battle between some figures with his camera, which earned him a scolding from Hikari Horaki, the class representative.

"Seriously, Kensuke? Playing with toys in class? What are you, 5?" Toji snarked.

"Come on, Toji. I was making my dramatization of Nerv's first battle!"

Kensuke suddenly paused, realizing the potential harm of his excuse.

"Aida! Apologize for that remark this instant!" Hikari yelled at him.

"Sorry, Toji. I didn't mean to... "

"It's fine, Kensuke. It's been three weeks, Sakura got out yesterday."

"Really? That's good news!" complemented Hikari.

"Yeah, it would've been worse if Ratchet hadn't saved us."

"Ratchet? The Autobot that turns into an ambulance?"

Kensuke asked with a sparkle in his eyes.

"Yes, that old geezer. He acts exactly like the grizzled veteran you see in war movies."

"I'm so jealous of you right now!"

"Aida…" snarled Hikari.

"Eep! Sorry, Toji! I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me this morning!"

"I know what you're trying to say, Kensuke. I don't mind. Rep, you really need to lighten up."

"Hmph! As a class representative, I have a reputation to uphold. You two should be on your best behavior today! We've got a new teacher and a new student!"

"About time. All Mr. Maruyama talks about is how the Second Impact happened and how it destroyed his old home and how we have to 'build a new world for ourselves.' We got it the first time! Why do we keep learning things we already know?!" ranted Toji.

"Sorry for the rant, I just wish we have a younger teacher instead of that senile retiree."

"You should be more respectful, Suzuhara," admonished Hikari.

"Besides, I hear its a young woman."

"Really! I hope she's pretty!" Kensuke swooned.

"Aida, don't make me break out the fan…" warned Hikari.

"Sorry! Shutting up…"

Suddenly, Hikari heard a pair of footsteps outside the door.

"Class! Rise!"

The classroom stood at attention.

The door opened.

In walked the most beautiful woman Kensuke thought he ever saw.

Her hair was dark sapphire blue with purple and raspberry streaks, tied into a ponytail.

She wore glasses over her oddly violet eyes and a relatively modest dress shirt and skirt that nonetheless accentuated her shapely legs.

She looked like the main characters of the magical girl shows he was so fond of watching.

Naturally, most of the male (and some female) students agreed.

The teacher and students exchanged bows.

"Mr. Maruyama had to be reshuffled to Class 2-B. So, I'll be your teacher from now on, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am!" the male students shouted rather suggestively, much to the chagrin of some female classmates, including Hikari.

The door opened once more, revealing the new transfer student.

"Good morning, Ikari."

He respectfully bowed, after a brief moment of gawking at her.

"I'm Ms. Towa Sawashiro. Class, this is our new transfer student, Shinji Ikari. I expect all of you to treat him with respect."

Suddenly, Toji was shocked out of his love-induced stupor by a sudden recollection from that fateful night.

"What's the status on Bumblebee and Ikari?"

"Drop off the Second Lieutenant and Corporal at the nearest shelter first. As for Bumblebee, he said Nerv was deploying some kind of anti-Angel weapon."

Slowly, Toji connected the dots.

"Ikari?! Wasn't he the guy who piloted the Eva?!"

"This can't be a coincidence. There's got to be a reason why he's here."

Then, he made a momentous decision.

"Ikari! Aren't you the pilot of the Evangelion!"

"Suzuhara! Watch your tongue!" admonished Hikari.

Shinji was taken aback.

"How did you know?" he asked innocently.

"EHHHHHHHH?!" gasped the class.

"I overheard the Autobots talking about you on the radio. One of them, Ratchet, saved my sister and me during that mess."

"At first, I kinda blamed you for my sister's injuries because I thought you wasted time. But then I saw how ferociously you and Optimus Prime kicked that thing's ass. I guess you guys had to plan things out, huh?"

"Uh, sure... "

Shinji stammered, trying to formulate a right answer.

"Anyways, I'm sorry about your sister, but if its any consolation, mine was injured too."

"Oh, I didn't realize…"

"Yeah, it was kinda sudden. We actually didn't…"

Ms. Sawashiro cleared her throat.

"Excuse me, but can you two continue this later?"

"Yeah, uh, let's talk outside later," said Toji awkwardly.

"Understood," replied Shinji.

Thus the class continued. For once, Class 2-A seemed just like any other classroom in Japan.

But it wouldn't be for long.

To be continued...

Bonus Character File: Ratchet

Alt. Mode: Red and White Hummer H2 Ambulance

Rank: Autobot Medic

Brief Bio: Ratchet was once an idealistic doctor graduating from Iacon's Academy of Science and Technology. However, changing fortunes brought Ratchet into the ranks of Orion Pax's Autobots, where he served on the front lines as a combat medic. Ratchet's firsthand experience of a millennia-long war irrevocably scarred him mentally and physically, leaving him a cynical shadow of his former self. Despite his external attitude, Ratchet profoundly cares for his Autobot and organic allies and like his old friend, Omega Supreme, is willing to sacrifice himself to protect them.

Holomatter avatar: Donald Pleasence as Dr. Samuel Loomis, Halloween franchise.