The air was different.
Well. Everything was different.
Gone were the quiet and peaceful scenery of Kimobetsu as well as the chilly breeze of the mountainous regions of northern Japan. At their place was the image of a typical, busy metropolitan station. The Isokaze line just made its final stop, dropping in their occupants from all corners of the nation, and maybe even the world into what's essentially the melting pot of the country of the Rising Sun. One could practically feel the thick scent of pollution that hung in the air, clearly a sign of rapid industrialization, yet none seemed to mind it.
The disconnect between one individual and the next, the sense of individuality - was more than apparent. Not one paid any attention to the elderly having difficulties stepping into the platform, none cared to bat their eye to the sight of a mother, helplessly trying to calm down her crying infant. Only the station attendants bothered to ask if they needed help, and even then, one could get the impression that they asked simply because it's a part of their job description, to ensure that the station is running without much disruption and interference, rather than being moved by sympathy or common courtesy.
Many were too busy with their own schedules, eyes glued to their smartphones or tablets, checking for new messages or other places to be. Men in suits made the move to call their superiors, letting them know of their arrival. Students in uniforms chatted without pause, gossiping away at the newest ongoing trend, only pausing when they realized they have much tasks to do from their respective schools, in which, their idle chatters turned into a chorus of small complaints to the nation's education system.
Truly, it was different from the cold cities of Hokkaido. Even the vibes given from the northern island's capital city, Sapporo was much different than the ones given off here, on the mainland. If one came from the countryside, stepping into Isokaze was probably an equivalent to stepping into a different country entirely. And honestly, none could blame them. In the station alone, keen-eyed observers could spot not one, not two, but several - to the point of dozens, foreigners roaming around the premises.
If anything, ironically being a native to Japan's smaller cities only gave one much of a likelihood to stick out like a sore thumb.
At least that's how one Umetaro Shibuya felt like as he tasted and tested the new and alien environment of Isokaze. The young man barely had any time to remember the fact that he had to celebrate the sixteenth birthday away from the familiar views of towering mountains surrounding Kimobetsu-cho when he quietly studied the change of atmosphere during the long train ride. The friendly and polite faces of the locals went away when they made their stops. Instead, they were replaced by business suits, sharp-dressed men and women or other high-class foreigners the closer they got to their final stop. All looking stoic and apathetic towards one another.
His dark chocolate eyes continued to scan his surroundings, his tanned and heavily calloused hands on a deathly grip on his suitcase. The feeling of being lost and alienated was already setting in, and unconsciously forming a sense of distrust towards the unfriendly and uncaring public, an absurd and unexplainable feeling of anxiety, like he was going to be robbed of his possessions automatically filled his mind for reasons unknown. All of this, despite he himself know of the fact that the people surrounding him were in a much better position, fiscal-wise, than him.
"...Can I help you, young man?"
It's only after a voice reached his ears that Shibuya snapped out of his daze. The boy's brown orbs whipped left and right to search for the source, before landing on a tall Japanese man, most likely twice his age, dressed in the distinctive black uniform of the station attendant. Like many of his colleagues, he wore the mask of stoic professionalism and practiced kindness. Though, also like the others, something told the Hokkaido native that the attendant wasn't doing this out of actual kindness.
"Um..." Shibuya only managed after a few more seconds of silence, which was already taking its own toll on the thin patience of the station attendant.
The older man lightly narrowed his eyes, not the point of glaring at the younger male, but clearly he wasn't all too pleased by the lack of actual response from him.
"Do you need any help? Perhaps I can direct you to the information booth?" He raised his white-gloved hand to his side, gesturing towards the facility in question. "In any case, if you'd be so kind to step off the platform? You are disrupting the flow of the other disembarking passengers."
At his words, Shibuya's eyes blinked twice, before he darted his head over his shoulder. True enough, some of the other commuters were circling around him - though despite some of the brief looks of disapproval shot towards him, most just didn't seem to even bother with spare him a glance. All eyes were glued to their own devices, all ears were focused on listening on something else. The boy's eyes then twirled his head back to face the attendant again.
With a quick bow of apology, he made his way to the nearest bench. "No sir, I apologize. I... didn't mean to do... that."
His voice was slow and sounded pathetic, the staff gave a nod of patience and once again told Shibuya that if he needed any help, he could visit the nearest information booth before scurrying off elsewhere. Again his tone indicated something akin of kindness, but at the same time, it sounded practiced and maybe just a tad bit forced. But Shibuya couldn't help but to bring his own anger out. The staff had a long day after all, much longer than him. And it was his fault that he loitered for a bit too long.
Only literal minutes since his arrival on Isokaze, and Umetaro could already define the age old saying of 'time is money'. Efficiency was king here. Discipline is a valued currency in such a rapidly developing city. Everyone was expected to bring this currency, to act like properly oiled machines, like well-polished cogs and gears to ensure that they wouldn't disturb the ongoing flow and process.
Finally reaching the bench, Shibuya finally eased his grip on his suitcase and plopped himself down on the empty seat. He wasn't too keen on sitting back down again after spending so many hours doing just that on the train, but it was apparent that he needed to gather his composure before continuing on. His fingers made their way to massage the bridge of his nose, while his other free hand made and attempt to reach for his backpack over his shoulder.
Feeling the sensation of cool plastic container, he fished the object over and brought it to his view. The half-empty mineral water he purchased at the last station. He took a quick swig to calm his nerves as he analyzed the dispersing crowd and growingly vacant platform. Now that his mind was in the right place, he could finally feel just how... humid the place was. A single bead of sweat was already forming on his forehead, and that wasn't from his earlier anxiety.
It was already close to evening, yet the climate still felt that much hotter than in the snowy regions of the north. It was only thanks to the air-conditioned train cars that he kept his jacket on. Now, Shibuya thought that the extra article of clothing on was unnecessary. He unzipped his gray jacket revealing a simple piece of white shirt underneath. Both clothing pieces lacked any kind of branding or other expensive accessories. A stark contrast to the other teenagers walking past by the young man.
His chocolate eyes once again took in the immediate scenery, his attention drawn to the nearby advertisements lined up neatly on the platform, all plastered with captivating colors and backlit with a plethora of bright, neon lights just to emphasize their existence. One in particular actually made him wince, it was an advertisement that was most likely directed to a student like him. The screen showcased a newly-built apartment complex situated near the commercial district of Isokaze. The rent cost just... had way too many zeroes for him to count.
And that was on discount too, no less.
The other advertisements featured the other attractions the city has to offer, from restaurants, clothing brands, to other events featuring celebrities, local and international alike. All of them having exorbitant prices, of course. Just looking at the costs alone made him tug at his own shirt's collar. unnerved that some people can easily spend so much for something so trivial. Though at the end of the day, how people chose to use their income is not his concern.
He was only a student, after all.
Speaking of being a student, it finally dawned on him to check on the nearby digital clock - another difference from the traditional analog ones, still used in many households and facilities on the countryside. It was about six in the evening. Shibuya reached out to his navy pants to pull out a piece of paper, on it detailing what needs to be done by the young man after his arrival. He merely let his eyebrows rise in curiosity at the list.
"Someone will meet you on the station platform..." He murmured the written text audibly, mostly to himself.
Umetaro tore his attention away from the paper to look around, seeing many students around his age, but none bearing the uniform of his establishment. Honestly at this point, considering all the qualities of indifference the people around him exhibited, he wouldn't be surprised if the academy just forgot that he's supposed to arrived today. Or better yet, they remembered, but simply just can't be bothered to send anyone to help him settle to this foreign city.
He let his eyes to close for a few moments. Letting everything to catch up to him. Even after only arriving, his opinions of the city just shifted so greatly. Although he wasn't particularly excited about his immediate future in the first place, he still had some curiosity on how things would turn out. For now, that curiosity only made way for new concerns. Without paying much thought, he folded his jacket and placed it on his arm.
"Excuse me!" Just before he delve deeper into his silent ponder, a feminine voice called out to him - or at least, he thought the voice specifically called him out. "Are you... Umetaro Shibuya-san?"
The boy's brown orbs met with a pair of pale cyan ones, those captivating orbs belonged to a young woman probably just a few years older than him with fair, healthy skin and long, flowing hair, to which he couldn't exactly pinpoint the color of. Her hair seemed to straddle between being brown, pink, and purple at the same time. There was a light yellow hairclip attached to the right, separating the longer strands of her hair to her bangs.
She was dressed formally, with the black academy blazer, all buttoned up, covering a collared gray shirt beneath it. A red tie was attached and visible around her neck visible for a few inches before disappearing underneath her buttoned uniform. The clothing itself had some white linings and patterns dotting some areas of the blazer, more specifically around the collar and sleeve area of the uniform. A short pleated skirt also seemed to be a part of the female's academy uniform.
Shibuya could only blink for a few seconds, processing the view that just entered his eyes. The woman looked to be out of breath, with trickles of sweat running down her face. It's as though she just ran all the way from the campus to the station premises. He genuinely wondered if she was comfortable wearing such thick layers of clothing in such hot and humid area like this. She was clutching a modern digital tablet to her chest for dear life.
Feeling that the woman would need to take her time, the boy spoke up first, standing up in the process. "Yes. I'm Umetaro Shibuya," His voice sounded much more distant than he'd like it to be. Internally, he berated himself for making a jaded impression on his senior. "I... um, it's nice to meet you?" He cleared his throat. "Are you from... ACE Academy?"
The woman waited for a few more seconds before she composed herself and presented a guilty smile towards him. "Ah, yes! My name is Yuuna Misaki, your liaison for the academy," She shook her head a few times, the look of guilt always staying. "I'm really, really sorry. Your arrival is supposed to be today... the administration didn't remind me about the time, but it's still no excuse. Again, I'm very sorry for the tardiness," She gave a deep, deep bow.
It actually incite a little bit of panic of the younger boy. "No, no. Please. It's alright, Misaki-senpai," He raised the both of his open palms to his chest, practically also begging her to raise her head. "It's partly my fault as well. I should've called the academy during the last stop."
So the academy didn't remember his arrival after all. It was only thanks to the sharp memories of his liaison that she rushed here of her own accord. But then again, it was also the truth that he probably should've had called the campus to let them know that he was close to his arrival. Else this situation could've been avoided entirely. Now that he thought about it, his senpai probably dropped whatever tasked she had just to rush and help a lost, insignificant country boy.
Now he was the one feeling guilty.
Yuuna slowly returned to her relaxed posture. Now that she stood back to her full height, Shibuya noticed that she was taller than him by quite the noticeable margin.
"The fault is still mostly from our side, though. But thank you very much for understanding," She offered him a light smile, still not ridden herself from that guilty look. Before things get anymore awkward between the two though, the older woman finally eased herself. "Let's try this again, shall we?" Yuuna asked with a light giggle. "I'm Yuuna Misaki, a second year of ACE Academy," She extended her free hand out to him. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Shibuya accepted the offer and shook her hand. She held quite the firm grip for her seemingly slim figure.
"Umetaro Shibuya, freshman," He nodded evenly. "The pleasure is all mine, Misaki-senpai."
Her smiled turned just a few bit brighter, one that he noticed seemed to be genuine. A first genuine smile in Isokaze. "Welcome to Isokaze, and welcome to ACE Academy!" She announced with excitement, before she rubbed the back of her neck a bit sheepishly. "Although I should probably hold off on saying that second part before we actually reach campus grounds."
She gestured a free hand to him, indicating the boy to follow. To which he easily complied, rolling the suitcase along the sleek floor of the station. Leaving the tracks and entering the lobby of the station, Umetaro's ears were once again greeted by the buzz of activity of locals and tourists alike. Now that he had his guide with him though, it was much more easier for him to tune out the background and just concentrate on the one with the rather flashy uniform.
The station exit was filled to the brim with the sight of smog and smoke, from taxies, shuttle busses, or other forms of personal transportation alike. Even in modern times, where society is plenty advanced, pollution seemed to be something that humanity can't escape from. The sun just plunged over the horizon, while the clear skies above gave up its orange tint, replaced instead with a dark blue hue, with some cosmic white dots decorating the view.
"Just like the Crossing, huh?" Yuuna spoke up, an attempt to alleviate the quiet mood between them. Her cyan eyes also taking in the view of busy streets beyond the station.
Shibuya actually had to thought about for a few seconds, probably a bit too long, before he understood the meaning behind her jest.
"Ah," The boy simply nodded after his realization. "I wouldn't know, senpai. I'm... not from Tokyo. Sorry."
His senior blinked in surprise, before she keyed a few buttons on her personal tablet. Her mouth slightly fell open at the information that just entered her eyes. "Oh... Oh!" She nodded in understanding. "I apologize. I'd just... assumed that you came from the capital because of your name," Again with that look of guilt.
Umetaro let a single grunt of acknowledgement escape from his throat. "I know. You don't need to worry about it. Many people have," He responded with another nod. "The fact that even my name shares the same kanji as the station probably didn't help," He added, probably a bit too quickly.
"Do you have any relatives on Tokyo then?" Yuuna asked with evidently rising curiosity.
He thought about it for a moment. "...I wouldn't know," He finally said after a long pause. "Sorry."
And the young woman knew better than to pry after that uncomfortable silence. "I see..." She let her voice trail off. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring the mood down."
"No. Senpai. Really, it's fine," He replied with a bit of unease. "So... um," He cleared his throat yet again, now coughing into his fisted hand. "Where do we go from here?"
"Ah, right. We take this shuttle bus to the campus," His senior promptly pointed to the waiting transportation in question. Being a metropolitan bus, the vehicle itself looked much more sleek and modern than the boxy ones still used outside the cities, but the shape is familiar enough. "Oh and before I forget again, here," She produced a card from inside one of her blazer's many pockets and politely handed it to the boy.
The card itself was mostly just white plastic, but its contents had been placed on it with laser precision, that he wouldn't be surprised if it's actually etched with laser tools. There was Shibuya's own portrait etched on the upper right portion of the object, complete with his full name - both printed in its kanji and roman alphabet form, assigned program, his student number, and some sort of barcode on the bottom right of the card. Underneath his portrait sat the institution's logo.
A very angular, stylized version of the letter 'A', colored in dark gray, but accompanied with two additional patterns colored in white and gold. Another emblem was also pasted above the letter, this time brandishing a bright blue shield and two 'fins' protruding towards the sides of both the shield and the logo beneath it, like wings of sorts. The 'fins' were also colored in a similar motif to the main emblem, a metallic gray, almost gunmetal, accompanied with accents of gold and white on it. Finally the words 'ACE ACADEMY' was printed front and center beneath the logo, all written in big, blocky, capital letters.
Oh, and it's also in English, instead of Japanese.
So much for being a Japanese learning institution.
"It's your student card," Yuuna's voice pulled his attention away from the identification card. "Aside from being well... your ID card, it can also be used to enter and use certain facilities inside the campus," She then pointed an index finger to his program. "And since you're in the GEAR Pilot program, this means you can gain access to the Pilot Lounge and GEAR Hangar."
He responded with a slow, numb nod. He needed some time to process all of that. "I see," He finally said dumbly.
Yuuna merely flashed him another friendly smile, positioning herself to enter the bus, the boy following suit. "If you have any other questions please feel free to ask."
The bus driver was like your typical middle aged Japanese man, clothed in the uniform of his company and greeted the two new occupants with a practiced tone. Once he saw Yuuna's uniform he merely nodded and gestured his neck to the vacant seats. However, he also signaled that they probably wouldn't be on their way until after five minutes, which it was probably one of the company's obligations to wait for more potential passengers.
After placing his suitcase away from the isle of the bus, Shibuya once again sat down on the cushiony seat of the transport, his joints slowly protesting the amount of sitting the boy'd done. Yuuna situated herself beside the younger boy, ready to spill more information should he needed it. Even something akin to an expectant look crossed her face, already prepared for any kind of questions. The stare actually made him a bit unnerved.
Despite his personal discomfort though, it was at least reassuring that not everyone in the city are so quick to dismiss anything and everything. In fact, he might argue that her mannerisms are quite similar to the more friendly locals back at Kimobetsu. A welcome change of pace from all the icy stares and cold, uncaring attitude of the other citizens ever since his arrival on the city. Though... granted, this was still only his first hour on Isokaze, so his judgement could be most likely be clouded and unfair.
In the end, breaking under the pressure from the innocent stare of his senior, "Is there... anything else I should know, senpai?"
She nodded. "Yes, lots," The girl whose hair color cannot be discerned broke into a small giggle. "If I'm reading this correctly," She motioned to her tablet. "You're on the full scholarship program as well, correct?"
"...Yes. That's right," Shibuya answered, losing the strain on his voice, but still a bit wary. Not wanting to sound like he's trying to rub it in like he's some high and mighty scholar.
Though despite this, Yuuna's face turned more serious. "Then I'd just like to confirm that you know which requirements to fulfill, else the funding of your education will be voided?"
Shibuya's mouth formed a thin line, and he chewed the inside of his lips before finally responding. "I do, Misaki-senpai."
"Four hundred hours on the 'Student on Work' program, an average GPA of 3.00 every semester, and an on-campus job contract of three years after graduation," She began reviewing off the boy's necessary duties displayed on her gadget, finally finishing with a sobering sigh. "Looks like you have quite a lot on your plate, Umetaro-kun," Her tone turned softer, and has a bit of sympathy within it. "But don't worry, considering you're accepted by the scholarship program to begin, and at your age no less! I'm sure you'll do just fine."
For once, Shibuya let a small tug to grace his lips. "I appreciate the vote of confidence, senpai. But really, it's... nothing special," He nodded at her, careful with his speech so that he wouldn't sound boastful. "Though I do have a question."
"Shoot," The cyan-eyed woman answered without hesitation.
"...What exactly do I need to do to fulfill those four hundred hours of... work?" The question came out sounding a bit more worried than he'd liked. Four hundred hours sounded plenty intimidating, after all.
Yuuna let her eyes wonder elsewhere, deep in thought on how to answer that question. "Hmm... about the specific details on the SOW program, I'm afraid I'm not that familiar with the scholarship program, myself... so I think you're better off asking the school's administration about that," She dip her head down slightly for another bow. "Sorry that I can't be of help in that department."
"Um... you've already done more than enough, Misaki-senpai, honest," Shibuya responded with that uneasiness back on his voice. "In fact, I probably should be the one apologizing, already causing so much trouble on your day off."
Campus life was yet to begin after all. She needed to present herself with that uniform on her day off, pick him up, and make sure everything's in order. The last thing anyone would've wanted on the evening of your vacation, a time most suited to spend with your family and friends or to just recharge for the coming work days was to dress up in your school uniform, go out of your way and rush to the train station, pick someone up, and go to the campus anyway.
"Still if it helps, I've heard some info here and there that any work on the academy counts towards your SOW hours. This includes piloting and doing maintenance to your GEAR, being active on extracurricular activities, even working on your thesis or other research papers contributes to the program," Yuuna's fingers were placed on her chin, not really listening to what her junior said just now. "Again, to be on the safe side though, the admins are your best bet."
"Of course, that's incredibly, incredibly helpful, Misaki-senpai. Thank you very much," It was Umetaro's turn to bend his head down to a grateful bow.
Yuuna looked like she was about to reply to his show of gratitude, but the bus's engine rumbled to life with a hiss. The vehicle then lurched forward, sending the two sole occupants to jump slightly on their seats. Shibuya had to balance his suitcase from toppling over on the isle. Yuuna sent a look of distress towards the bus driver, who just started their journey without warning, but the man was oblivious to her glare. Or he chose to be oblivious. Feign ignorance.
The older woman cleared her throat. "Oh, and finally, I just got word from customs that your GEAR has safely arrived in Isokaze, but it's still being held at port."
"That's... a bit surprising," The freshman said after a brief pause. "I have the impression that ACE Academy students would have it easier when it comes to our GEAR processing."
"Don't worry," Yuuna reassured with another friendly smile. "I'll see if I can contact the campus administration or-"
He realized that it was probably a mistake to let his concerns out to her. This Yuuna woman has thought less of herself and more on his well-being.
"No!" Shibuya exclaimed in a hurried, panicked voice.
The boy almost bit his tongue when the response came out louder than what he'd consider to be polite, especially to his senior. The woman in question blinked twice in surprise, not expecting the freshman to raise his voice. There was no indication that she was hurt or offended by his sudden outburst, though, just light shock. The bus driver in front shifted his body on his seat, catching the noise but ultimately paid no attention to the commotion.
"Please, Misaki-senpai. You've done more than enough. When it comes to on-campus or personal affairs, I'll handle it on my own," Before she could say anything within the lines of 'I insist', the younger boy added. "Really, it's fine," He sent a light, if somewhat distant smile towards his senior. "I... don't want to be a burden."
His last few sentences sounded too meek for his own good, but Yuuna relented at last. Meddling into the scholarship program was out of her jurisdiction after all.
"If you say so," She finally said with a look of worry, but at least her voice carried the tone of finality. "If you need any other help though, really - don't be afraid to ask."
"...Right, and I'm really sorry for yelling," His head dipped low as penance for his earlier display of rudeness.
But it was clear that the girl paid no mind to it, she dismissed it with a quick flash of smile. "Don't worry about it, Umetaro-kun. And please, just Yuuna is just fine."
"Umm... of course, Misaki-senpai."
"Yuuna."
"I'll try, Misaki-senpai."
"Yuuna."
"...I'll try later, Misaki-senpai."
Her pinking cheeks puffed in a frown, not exactly looking angry, but she was not pleased either. "Any particular reason you can't try now?"
"...W-well, no. Not really," Shibuya rubbed the back of his neck, his answer coming out in a lame fashion. "It's just... from where I come from it's just... I'm used to the upbringing, and you're my senior, so I really don't want to sound rude..." Before he could stop himself, he added. "I... promise I'll try later, though. Honest!"
The rest of the trip was filled with an awkward silence. Shibuya dared not to open his mouth to ask about anything in particular, afraid that his senior would spring into action and possibly do anything unnecessary. He would occasionally sneak in a massage on his forehead, feeling the migraine from the overwhelming atmosphere of the city alone. It was quite literally a jungle of concrete and metal, with tall, towering building complexes as far as his eyes could see.
Yuuna was proactive to fill in the silence every few minutes to chime about notable places to be as they passed through the many districts of Isokaze. For what was essentially man-made land, the city itself still carried many attractions to offer for its citizens and/or visitors, such as himself. The city itself was an icon of Japanese industrial progress, the paragon of what is both good and bad of rapid globalization, despite it being the one that pushed the country into being one of the few global superpowers. For every beautiful beaches, towering office complex, and other prestigious schools like the one they're attending, there were three times the amount of active industry.
Rumors swirled around about the dirty political power plays around the city, especially when it comes to GEARs. Companies like Dasshu, Aludian, Paragon, Vector, to name a few, fighting for dominance when it comes to their manufacturing capabilities. If someone came up to him and said that every single GEAR company had at least three office branches in Isokaze, he'd believe them. It's basically an arms race, akin to the cold wars of old. A delicate peace, but at the same time, a war on all other fronts except physical.
Though even with every sour rumor, and despite Shibuya not being the one to be so easily captivated by the allure of the city, he just couldn't deny that Isokaze had its own charms that could be just the thing for some groups of people. Especially for those who have similar interests when it comes to GEARs. It was the best place to not just conduct businesses and trade, but also the best place to learn and familiarize one's self with the giant robots.
"I hope your journey here was a pleasant one, Umetaro-kun?" Yuuna chirped after a few more minutes of silence.
To which the boy gave a singular bop of his head. "It was, Misaki-senpai. The academy has been very helpful during the commuting process."
A slight frown hardened the soft features of her face. "Clearly it wasn't good enough if the campus just forgot about their students..." As soon as she said that, her face deflated back to her relaxed one, though. "Oh, I'm sorry. Keep bringing the mood down when it's supposed to be a joyous day for you," She nodded apologetically at him.
Shibuya offered no words, safe for a small sympathetic smile, clearly it was more of a habit of his senior, she meant no ill intent for him. Though, he was also caught up in the surprise at her earlier remarks, especially towards the campus. He'd thought that most guides or liaisons for an institution would most likely try to present their organization in the best ways possible, sometimes down to downplaying critical opinions, just to make their colleagues look good.
Clearly, this woman was a wild card.
"Just before I completely forgot, since you're under the full scholarship program, you don't have to worry about your daily necessities. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided by the campus dorm, and your card can also be used for five free shuttle bus rides within the week," Yuuna sent him a grin. "So don't be afraid to explore around if you've got the time! If you want to buy your own food, that is also acceptable, just remember that the academy is not providing free spending money."
That actually garnered a single grunt that resembled more of a chuckle from the boy. "Duly noted, Misaki-senpai," A thought crossed his mind.
The bus slowly, but surely lost some of its velocity as the driver softly applied the brakes. The two passengers noted that the vehicle has grounded to a halt before a large complex, one that Shibuya couldn't differentiate between the others. He noticed a pattern that most buildings within the city looked similar from one another. But the pleased look of his senior seemed to suggest that they've arrived at the desired destination.
After wheeling his belongings out from the transport, the two stood upon a large, closed gate with the large, eccentric logo of the academy being brandished on its mighty surface. Despite it's already entering nighttime, the complex itself was incredibly well-lit, and just from the front gate alone, the boy could see several facilities that this one complex had, spires of classroom and office buildings, large domes that probably served as the arena and maybe the indoor gym, and smaller concrete structures that gave him the impression that they were the dormitory complex of the institution.
With a nod, Yuuna gave him one more smile and spread her arms almost dramatically to her side.
"Well, here we are," Her radiant smile was backed by the lights of the university. "Welcome to ACE Academy!"
Afterword:
Is... anyone even reading ACE Academy fanfictions to begin with lmao
Is anyone even making ACE Academy fanfictions at all LMAO
Hell. Did I even get the correct ACE Academy? This is the ACE Academy - as in the visual novel one, right? Oh, what the hell, I don't care. This is boredom project of mine that I got an idea of making after reading one too many VNs, and one of them just happened to be ACE Academy (all rights belong to PixelFade, of course). Let's just say that I'm interested in the premise and the setting of the VN, and wanted to create my own... well, side story to the universe. This story's intention is directed more towards having a more grounded and technical approach to the ACE Academy universe, oh and also more focus towards student life, so be warned that some parts most likely will be VERY SLOW.
I want to try and take a look at the world with less of an anime focus and more that is grounded in a futuristic science-fiction setting, akin to an actual novel (HOPEFULLY). This particular story features an original character as you see here. But again, my intention with this fanfiction is NOT to replace the ongoing story nor its main characters, I see this more as a side story about less explored themes of the universe that I want to simply write about.
There will be a lot of ass pulls and personal creative freedom taken in this story, so it's best for you people to treat it as an actual fan-made fiction - as in, with as little connection to the ongoing canon as much as possible. Like, did you know that I have to come up with the """actual""" complete name of the GEARs, just for the sake of immersion? Like here, I decide to name them [G]uided [E]xoframe [AR]mor. Just because it's so ridiculous that I had to put it in.
Anyway, I hope... I don't know what I should hope, to be honest, lmao. Get noticed by PixelFade maybe? I hope you all enjoy this mess.