I'm back.

I would like to apologize for the lack of updates. No, I did not drop this story. I understand if you guys have dropped it, that's on me. I haven't posted in a while because life has punched me in the mouth. I recently graduated from college, but I needed to find a new job. So, I've been busy submitting resumes and looking around. Next, right before I left for my final semester, my mom adopted a stray kitten and in the short time we've had him, he's really bonded with me. At the same time, we've had a dog for around 5 years and she and I are inseparable. Now I have to deal with them fighting for my attention when my mom goes to work and it drains me. Not only that but, no longer having to wake up for class every morning makes me sleep in so much that it cuts the time I have to write (I'm a really slow typer and I get distracted easily). With that being said I'm going to try and get back into the groove. Thank you for your patience and continued support.

Enjoy

Chapter 12: What Seems Like Normal

Alter woke up to a good morning text from Juliet, telling him to have a great first day. He only had a few numbers on his personal scroll, so it would be weird having two of them. Would it be alright to give Juliet his new scroll number? Or would having separate contacts be beneficial? There was no use thinking about it now; he needed to get ready. Sitting up, Alter noticed the others were still asleep. It was still dark and quiet, except for the sound of Ulivia's snoring. Their first class didn't start for another two hours, and breakfast would begin in an hour. That gave him and the others plenty of time to prepare for the day.

After a quick shower, he slipped into the uniform Beacon issued them. Alter was used to it since he had to wear something similar at his old school, but this was of a higher quality. The Beacon uniform fit much better with its superb tailoring. The material was not only soft but breathable and fit him perfectly. He checked his appearance in the mirror and decided to leave the blazer open. If Juliet saw him, she'd be gushing about how handsome he looked. Heck, she probably would ask for a picture of him in the uniform sooner or later.

Alter's wound from yesterday had healed a little, so he rebandaged it with the first aid kit he brought and applied more ointment, which eased the pain a bit. Grabbing his backpack full of school supplies, Alter hesitated before leaving. Would it be right to leave without waking them first? Would they appreciate it if he let them sleep some more? Was leaving even an option? Alter did like being a bother, but as team leader, he was partly responsible for them. He still wasn't sure about the whole leader thing; the only example Alter had was Raven. While grateful for the training, imitating her leadership probably wouldn't be well received. Honestly, Alter would've preferred not being the leader; he'd never been on a team in the first place. After that incident, he always felt better doing things alone; it was better that way. A brief image of smiling kids in a pure white room flashed through his thoughts. Calming his mind, he finally decided to set the alarm on his other scroll for fifteen minutes. Having two scrolls was actually working out already.

[=]

Breakfast wasn't peaceful for long. There wasn't even time for him to try his bacon and cheese omelet before the rest of his team and CIAN found him in a spot by one of the large windows in the dining hall. "Sitting all alone looking grumpy really sells how much of a social butterfly you are." The fork in his hand stiffened at Tomoe's voice. He didn't know why, but her tone and the smile she wore annoyed him a bit.

"I was actually saving a spot for all of you."

"At a table meant for one person?"

"Ah," she had him there.

"Well, at least you picked somewhere with a good view, so you're not all bad, I guess fufu." Alter's brow twitched; it seemed Tomoe found pleasure in taking jabs at him.

"Let's push some tables together. That way, we can all eat with each other," suggested Abby. As the others went to get additional tables and chairs, Alter sighed at the loss of a quiet morning.

Even though the number of students in the cafeteria was sparse, everything was much louder than he would've liked with the two teams here now.

"You should've seen the look on his face! It was all red like a freakin' tomato! Hahaha!"

"Ulivia, y-you walked out the shower naked! How was I supposed to react?"

"Oh, boohoo, you saw my tits. So what? Hell, most guys would kill to catch a peek at a girl. Besides, since we're gonna be living together, stuff like that will happen. You'll get used to it."

"In the future, however, please be more careful," Tomoe warned.

"Yeah, yeah, sheesh, it's just some skin. What's the big deal?

"Rail, you lucky bastard," Ike mumbled.

"Huh? You say somethin' Shrimp?"

"Uh." Ike was saved by Carly pushing his head into a plate of waffles.

"Nothing, ignore him." She answered for him while casually munching on a pastry.

Ike rose out of his seat, visibly irked, "Carly, what the heck was that for?!"

"There's a waffle stuck to your forehead." Ike went cross-eyed, trying to find it and the others chuckled as Abby struggled to remove it.

"Hey." Alter's eyes shifted to Rail. "Thanks for leaving an alarm for us. We were more exhausted than we thought and forgot to set one for ourselves," he whispered. "I'm sure Ulivia and Tomoe feel the same."

"Yeah, don't mention it."

[=]

He'd long stopped taking notes, and it wasn't because of the professor's rapid pace. Doctor Oobleck zipped around the lecture hall with too much energy for a history class at eight in the morning. It was rather impressive watching the wiry man go. Alter thought he had some sort of speed semblance, but upon closer inspection, it might've been whatever was in that thermos he was drinking from. Alter wasn't paying much attention, but he did jot down anything that seemed important. At least he was asleep or about to like most of the class, including Ulivia and Ike. Abby and Nash frantically scribbled down notes, Nash at one point even caught a cramp. Tomoe and Rail looked fine, and Carly managed to focus on the lecture and whatever she was doing on her scroll. Alter noticed Professor Oobleck's gaze fall in his direction. There was no telling exactly who the speedy professor's eyes were on since he was sitting at the very back. Assuming he was about to be scolded, Alter sighed and prepared to apologize.

"Ms. Valentine."

"Huh? Oh, sup teach." The class was split between stunned silence and quiet laughter at her laid-back address of their instructor.

"If you would so please explain the cause for the first battle of the Great War?"

"I dunno, the two sides probably got pissed off with each other or somethin'."

"Hmm, that's not inaccurate; perhaps someone would like to give a more thorough answer?"

At that moment, Coco Adel stood, "It was a dispute between Vale and Mistral settlers each seeking to claim a set of small islands and a peninsula on the east coast of Sanus."

"Well done Ms. Adel, thank you." It was hard not to miss how much Coco appreciated the praise nor the smug smirk she sent Ulivia and the rest of Alter's team. They had no idea what that was about, so it didn't bother them. "Ms. Valentine, I ask that you refrain from sleeping in my class in the future. The same goes for the rest of you taking naps." All around the room, heads shot up, eyes wide and alert. The bell rang seconds after, causing the doctor to sigh. "That will be all for today. Please read up to chapter five in the textbook by the end of the week. Also, I'm assigning a five-page essay due at the end of next week over historical leaders and figures. I'll send an email with more details." The class let out a collective groan at the news of the assignments. "Thank you for your time today, and have a great rest of your first day."

[=]

The next class was Stealth and Security with Professor Ann Greene. It didn't feature a lecture; instead, Ms. Greene gave them a brief overview of the course and what to expect. However, the class after was more proactive. Combat Training with Professor Goodwitch, the stern woman, made it clear that there would be no relaxing in her class. Interestingly enough, Ulivia and Ike were far more attentive now, the former itching to just fight and the latter wanting to show off. "You will square off in one on one matches, each of you will be required to participate once a week. This class will be held twice a day, so you will have ample opportunity to go. As for how you will be graded, please listen to me when I say this, your win record will not determine your overall score. Of course, the number of victories you get will have an effect, but what I'm expecting the most from you is improvement. I will pit those with equal skill levels against each other, but periodically you will face someone who is your better or carries an advantage in fighting style. With that being said, let us begin.

Tomoe was the only one from Team ASUR to go and to say she thoroughly trounced her opponent was an understatement. The one she faced was a boy with lavender hair and twin hooked swords. Alter observed as Tomoe danced around just like in their battle.

"She's beautiful," he heard Abby whisper. Alter felt for the boy since he had experienced how Tomoe fought first hand. The duel ended when Tomoe disarmed both of her foe's weapons, knocking him to the ground and putting his aura in the red. Apparently, she fought so well that the only critique Ms. Goodwitch gave her was to finish the fight faster when she could. The rest of the crowd applauded, but more to uplift her opponent than cheer her, though, they were all impressed at Tomoe's prowess.

[=]

The rest of the day was a blur; lunch was just as chaotic as breakfast. Grimm Studies was basically a free period since all they did was faintly listen or sleep as Professor Port spewed tales of his "epic" past. The class's interest only piqued when he told them that in the future, they would be chosen to fight a captured Grimm occasionally. Weapon Crafting and Upkeep with Professor Harold Milberry was similar to the shop class he once took at his old school. The difference was instead of building chairs or birdhouses, it would be weapons. "Knowing your weapon and keeping it in peak condition is key for every huntsman and huntress. In fact, I would say it is one of the most crucial aspects of this career. It will guarantee that your weapon doesn't fail you in the heat of battle and end up dead. Especially in the age where mecha-shift weapons are so popular, there is much to account for all the moving parts involved. In any instance, your weapon could jam or malfunction, and if that happens, you better hope you have backup, an easy way to escape, or one heck of a semblance. The same goes for those with simpler weapons; since you'll be stuck with a single option to fight, you must be cautious. That is why I will teach you how to spot potential faults, how to fix and improve them, basic and advanced maintenance management, and if you choose to switch or wield another weapon, how to craft and customize your very own. To start, I would like you all to bring out your weapons, so I may inspect them."

The professor went around the large workshop, carefully examining and appraising each one. He complimented Ike's Silver Slugger for being more than it seemed with what Ike called it's "super mode." Nash was given ideas on how he could add to his lance, Vanguard, to make it more potent. Abby asked Professor Mulberry if there was a way to increase the output of Dream Crafter's dust blasts without it overheating. Unfortunately, he couldn't give her an answer at the moment since Abby exclusively used dust. With how dangerous it was, strengthening the power would make it unstable. Of course, there were ways to stabilize dust, but not for such a small weapon with the amount of power Abby wanted. Carly's weapon, Serenity, got high remarks for its balance of being sleek and lightweight.

Much to Alter's dismay, the evaluation of ASUR" s weapons caused a commotion. "My word Mr. Peridot these are marvelous!" The professor said, holding up Rail's silver and green gauntlets. "I've never seen such an advanced weapon configuration. Don't tell me you created these yourself?"

"No, well, not exactly. I only did the basic design. A very close friend of mine in Atlas finalized and built them."

"Do you mind telling me a few of its augments?"

"Not at all, both the gauntlets and the boots made with a titanium alloy. Various types of dust are stored within, allowing me to fire blasts from the palms and soles. Through the use of this, I'm able to fly with the boots. I wouldn't be able to do this without this earpiece." He motioned to his left ear, "It's linked with my brain, which lets me command all the parts mentally. It's called the Resolute Armor." Their classmates had gathered around, dazzled by the devices.

"Very good. Let's move on to Ms. Valentine."

"Sure thing, this is Greedy Tyrant."

"Quite the intimidating weapon we have here. I'd say the name suits it perfectly. It looks to be Atlas made. Is that where it's from?"

Ulivia shrugged, "How should I know?"

"Then where did you get this?"

"Took it off someone's hands." The other students exchanged concerned looks; some even backed away from Ulivia.

"I see… well, methods of acquisition aside, your weapon looks to be in great condition, and I love the personal flair you've added," grinning at the pink skull spray-painted on the side. "Now on to Ms. Shiranui…" The professor's voice left him as his gaze landed on Tomoe's sword. Professor Mulberry timidly reached out but pulled his hand back and looked at Tomoe, silently asking for permission to touch it. She nodded. He shakily picked it up and unsheathed the blade. "Beautiful. It's a work of art as much as it's a weapon." The astonished man held it gingerly, entranced. Speaking like he was unworthy to be in the sword's presence. "How such beauty can be transferred to a tool meant for a huntress is beyond me. Not only is it aesthetically flawless, but there's no question that this blade has seen battle."

"Yes, Kiyo Ryurei and I have been through a lot." There was a brief hint of sorrow to her voice that only Alter seemed to pick up on. It was strange considering how their classmates were in agreement with Professor Mulberry. Huntsmen and Huntresses took pride in their weapons, yet Tomoe looked somewhat ashamed. "I forged her myself; where I'm from, we create our own swords to establish a greater bond with them."

"That speaks volume to the quality of this blade, as well as your own creativity. Well, Mr. Starverse, let us proceed with your weapon." The attention was now on Alter. As he thought, with how impressed Professor Mulberry was with his teammate's weapons, they expected his to be just as spectacular. Sighing internally, Alter placed Overlight on the table for everyone to see. As he hoped, unlike the rest of his team, the reaction for his sword was less exciting. Especially coming after Tomoe's beautiful sword. Compared to her vibrant purple and light blue color scheme, his all-black sword looked dirty. "Ah, another classical weapon I see. May I?" Alter gave him the go-ahead, but when Professor Mulberry touched the handle, his hand flinched back as if it had been burned or shocked. "Tsssh, I say, young man, do you have an anti-theft prevention attached?"

'People actually put those on weapons?' Alter was just as clueless as Professor Mulberry. The only other person to have held Overlight was Raven, and nothing ever happened to her. "I have no such thing," eyes sharpening as everyone stared at him oddly.

"No problem, I don't need physical contact for my analysis," shaking some feeling back into his hand. "Let's have a look… it appears sharp, no chips or cracks, and despite being all black, I can see how well it's polished. Yes, I say you have a sword of great caliber; well done, young man. How did you come by this weapon, and does it have a name?"

Time for another half-truth. How many had he told since coming to Beacon? If he kept this up, he'd turn into a pathological liar. "Its name is Overlight. It was a gift from my teacher, the one who trained me, but I don't know where they got it from."

The professor's brow quirked at the ironic name but made no comment, "Thank you, Team ASUR; not only are your weapons fascinating, but they're-"

"Hey, Prof, why don't you stop going gaga over some toys and examine a real weapon." The classroom turned to Coco as she hefted a large brown and gold minigun onto the table with a large thud. "This is my pride and joy, Gianduja." The other students except for ASUR and CIAN crowded around Coco, leaving them behind like they were yesterday's news." Coco looked over and gave them the same smug smirk she did in Professor Oobleck's class. In fact, he remembered her doing the same in Combat Training after she decimated her opponent. If she wanted all the attention and praise, then she could have. It would make Alter's life more peaceful.

[=]

Like he did at his old school Alter went through the motions trying not to stand out too much. The rest of the week went by with nothing outstanding happening unless he counted all the time's Coco tried one-upping his team, except for the last day of the week. He and his team were currently in Combat Class, the final one of the day. Ms. Goodwitch stood on the stage surveying them hawkishly, "Before I choose, would any students that haven't gone today wish to volunteer?" It was like this every class, the ones who were eager to fight usually asked to go first. Alter never did, deciding to play it safe by waiting for all the stronger students to go, to have a greater chance of pairing with someone he could mostly hold back on. At present, from their team, Tomoe had gone during the morning class. Ulivia would've already fought by now; evidently, she wasn't in the mood today. So was everyone else; apparently, that must've been because everyone was thinking about the weekend. "Very well, I shall choose-"

"Alter would like to go."

"Huh?" He looked over to the raised arm of Tomoe with her arm outstretched in the air.

"Mr. Starverse? Is this true?" With her prior knowledge of how Alter acted, so Ms. Goodwitch was caught off guard with his sudden willingness.

"Actually I-"

"He sucks at being noticed, so I thought I'd help him out."

"Wh-What are you doing?"

"Ufufu. Good luck."

"Thank you, Ms. Shiranui. Mr. Starverse, if you'd, please?"

Once he was on the stage, dressed in his usual clothes and Overlight across his back Glynda addressed the class again. "Would anyone like to face Mr. Starverse?"

"Yats here will take him on."

"Am I to assume Mr. Daichi has trouble speaking for himself as well, Ms. Adel?"

"As much trouble as I'm having keeping my eyes off you, Ms. G."

"I'll ignore that. Mr. Daichi, if you don't have any objections, please get ready and make your way to the stage."

"Hey, Yats." The huge man turned, his brow raised in question. "Make sure you go all out. None of that gentle giant stuff, alright? I want you to crush him."

"I'll fight my hardest."

This was just great. Why did Tomoe have to put him in the spotlight like that? Now he had a match against a guy on the same team with the person who made it her personal goal to prove how much better her team was. As he eyed the large teen across the stage, Alter couldn't help but think how this reminded him of those Mistralian cartoons that had two rival teams face off.

"Yatsu!"

"You're so cool!"

"Yatsuhashi, do your best!"

"He's so handsome."

"I know you can do it!"

"Can you flex for us?"

In the first week, Team CFVY had made quite the names for themselves both in and out of the classroom. Even among the upper years, they were quite popular. Whether it be for their excellent combat abilities, book smarts, or straight up attraction, they were part of the topic. As such, the ladies were showing precisely who they supported. Yatsuhashi smiled and waved, making them swoon.

"GO ALTER! C'mon, guys, we have to cheer him on!"

"Abby's right. Let's go, Alter!" Ike shouted, following Abby's lead.

"Hell yeah! Kick his ass, Alter! Show em' how Team ASUR throws down. Rail, Tomoe, what are ya doin' you gotta cheer louder!"

"Alter's the one who saved my angel, and if she's supporting him, so will I!"

Coco smirked their way, "Heh, don't waste your breath. Yats is gonna cream him."

"He'll win. Alter is stronger than you think." Rail nodded in agreement with Carly's statement.

"As if he could hold a candle to Yats. I've seen how he's fought."

"You haven't." Coco scowled as Tomoe grinned at her."

"Yeah? What's that mean?"

"Pay attention and find out. You'll see."

With all the cheering going on, the crowd had kicked up into a frenzy. It was still much in Yatsuhashi's favor, but that didn't bother Alter. What concerned him was how he would go about combating the seven-foot-tall tower of muscle that was his opponent. From what Alter could tell, Yatsuhashi was both physically and mentally strong, which was why he was one of the top students in Combat Class. Alter couldn't get away with how he'd been fighting thus far. He looked into the stands toward Tomoe, wearing a sugary sweet smile. This was her fault somehow.

Glynda was unsure how this match would play out, Mr. Starverse showed great skill in vanquishing Grimm, but that didn't always translate when facing humans. In his first three bouts, he won by ring out or disarming them. Yesterday he claimed victory by focusing his attacks on his opponent's weapon until it couldn't function. She was interested in his strategy against Mr. Daichi, one of the strongest students in the entire grade, even surpassing some of the upper years. "The match will end when either of your aura's drop into the red, ring out, yield, or by my decision. Please arm yourselves."

Yatsuhashi flourished his gigantic copper-colored sword, "It seems we both have teammates that like to go over our heads." Alter wordlessly pulled Overlight off his back, the chain uncoiling then shortening its own, the blade shimmering a faint blue. "My leader asked me to not go easy on you, so I'll try to make this quick."

"Is that so?"

Glynda sighed, boys and their needless posturing, always trying to show off. "If both of you are ready? Then, begin!"

For the next chapter, I'll try to aim for this Saturday, Dec 16th.